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Monday, November 30, 2009

Sometimes I Get Tired

Sometimes I get tired.

Sometimes I get tired of freezing my hands off from digging through the freezer to find the cherries I need to bake muffins, only to discover that I dug out sour cherries, when I needed sweet cherries, and have to go digging again.

Sometimes I get tired of having to walk out to the barn in the rain to get shredded zucchini from our "overflow freezer".

Sometimes I get tired of picking up the fabulous dude's dirty clothes, of putting them in the hamper, of washing them, of drying them, of folding them and then of doing it all over again.

Sometimes I get tired of menu planning, grocery shopping and cooking week after week.

Sometimes I get tired of taking 10 minutes out of a busy day to process the stale bread crusts to make bread crumbs.

Sometimes I get tired of working on my thesis day after day.

Sometimes I get tired of wiping up muddy paw prints off the floor.

Sometimes I get tired of life.

But then I stop to think.

And I realize how blessed I am to have such a vast assortment of chicken, pork, venison, shrimp, fish, fruit, vegetables and baked goods in the freezer that I literally have to dig to find what I need.

I become aware of how spoiled we are that we needed to make use of the extra freezer in the barn at the end of the summer because we couldn't fit everything we have into our regular freezer.

I think about how blessed I am to have a husband to pick up after, clothes to wear, and a washing machine and dryer that were given to us for free.

I think of how incredible it is that we have the means to eat new meals each week and how blessed we are to have enough food in our home that we could eat for weeks without buying a single item.

I consider how abundant our blessings are that we have enough bread that we can afford to let the crusts go stale to become bread crumbs.

I remember that the privilege I have to become educated is one that many do not have.

I think about how comforting it was when Nika cuddled up with me to have a nap when I wasn't feeling good, and when she came to check if I was alright when I burnt my hand with boiling water (even though I'm pretty sure she was trying to see if any ribs fell out of the pot). And I think about how nice it was when she licked the brown sugar I spilled off the floor so I didn't have to sweep.

I realize that I take for granted that I am healthy and blessed beyond compare.

And then I am no longer tired.

Then, I am ashamed for ever being tired.

Then, I realize how selfish I am.

Then, I am humbled.

Then, I am grateful.

18 comments:

Shaina said...

I couldn't have said it better myself.

Heather @ Simple Wives said...

Excellent post...and so true for myself as well!

Tricia said...

This was beautifully written, L. We all need this reminder from time to time. ;)

XO*T

Holly said...

Great post, and good reminders we all need.

jenn said...

great post - and SO true!! :)

SnoWhite said...

Amen! I often try to remind myself of these things when I'm tempted to focus on how tired I am.... thanks for writing this today.

A New England Girl said...

This is so beautifully written, Lucy. What a perfect reminder. Thank you for sharing it with us!
xoxo.

Jackie said...

What a good reminder. I know how you feel. :)

Brooke said...

i was trying to refocus last night. had a small disaster with the Christmas ornaments that left me in tears.

but at the end of the day i'm terribly blessed - because without a great grandmother who loved me...those antique ornaments wouldn't have meant so much. and very few in this world are as blesses as I am to have the privilage of loving my great grandmother for 21 years.

Emily said...

What an awesome post. I am bad for this too. Thanks for the reminder.

Annie said...

great reminder, esp this time of the year.
hope you are having a good day!!

Vee said...

Amen.

Sometimes, YOU tire me out....reading all the things you do - God bless you for all you do. And for reminding all of us how blessed we are!

XOXO

Gwen said...

I definitely need reminders every once in a while. Thank you!

katie said...

great post!

Brittany Ann said...

So funny. Something very similar was on my heart today. I hoped to post about it this week, too.

So beautiful. I love how this came right from your heart.

Gwen said...

Beautiful post!!! I think sometimes our troubles make us blind to all of the good in our lives but I'm glad that you can see past it all and see the wonderful things you have going. :) XOXO

Lucky in Love said...

I love this post. I feel tired about a lot of things...but it's so wonderful to hear the way you turned it around. We are both truly blessed. Thanks for the reminder :)

Taryn said...

Hmm- I wish I could get that stupid thought into my head. I am just so tired too. Sigh. Tired of my wonderful job that allows me time with fantastic kids- but the gratefulness isn't coming. thanks for the reminder though. Maybe it is the silent gratitude that will come later.