Encouraged

Today I came to the realization that I will never actually be "done" with my housework. It seems like just as I get the dishes and laundry done, floor swept, moped and/or vacuumed and bathrooms cleaned, I find another mess in need of cleaning.

Someone gets hungry and pours and entire box of cereal for herself, or someone climbs onto the counter to get an after school snack and leaves footprints on the counter top and cracker crumbs on the floor. Someone gets home from school and empties the entire contents of his backpack onto the living room floor (including rocks and pieces of eraser that have been fashioned into "very special" figurines.) Someone uses the bathroom and has incredibly bad aim. There is always another meal to prepare, and more dirty laundry at the end of every day.

After spending much of the day cleaning today, and I finally had the kids settled in bed, I looked around the house and found that it looked like a tornado had blown through my living room. Needless to say, I felt rather discouraged. And then I remembered this from one of my favorite conference talks:

If you are still in the process of raising children, be aware that the tiny fingerprints that show up on almost every newly cleaned surface, the toys scattered about the house, the piles and piles of laundry to be tackled will disappear all too soon and that you will—to your surprise—miss them profoundly.

Let us relish life as we live it, find joy in the journey, and share our love with friends and family. One day each of us will run out of tomorrows. President Thomas S. Monson (Oct 08)

After re-reading this message from President Monson, not only did I feel encouraged, I felt very blessed. I am so grateful for the gospel in my life that provides upliftment when I most need it. And so grateful for my husband and kids, and all of the messes that come with them.