“How wonderful and pleasant it is when families live in
harmony!" ~ Psalm 133:1
Sandra pushed the front door open
against a tide of objects wedged against it from the other side. Tiptoeing across the room, she tried to avoid
the cacophony of Legos, raisins and Cheerios that littered the floor. Her eyes and mouth froze wide open in stunned
surprise as Sandra absorbed a more panoramic view.
An antique lamp had been knocked
over. The Cartoon Channel blared loudly
from the TV. Kid’s toys and various
clothing items ‘decorated’ the family room.
Dirty dishes filled the kitchen sink; breakfast remnants
cluttered the counter. The refrigerator
door was open and a broken glass lay under the table alongside the dog’s
morning ‘business.’
Out of the corner of her eye, Sandra spotted their twin boys,
still in their pajamas, playing outside in the mud. She couldn’t wait to hear the story of how
“they were enjoying nature in the backyard, when, POW! A mud puddle jumped right out of the tree and
landed on them.”
She peered inside and found wet towels, scummy soap and
miles of toilet paper lying in a messy heap.
Expensive lipstick covered the tile and mirror.
As Sandra rushed to the bedroom, she found Daren curled up in
bed reading a novel. He looked up at her, smiled and asked how her day went.
She looked at him bewildered and asked, “What happened here
today?”
He again smiled and answered, “You know every day when you
come home from work and ask me what in the world I did all day?
”Yes,” she replied suspiciously.
He answered, “Well, today I didn’t do it.”
Sandra, a busy executive who spends nearly most waking minute
grappling with strategic issues, focusing on cost reduction, and devising
creative approaches to new markets, understood immediately. Despite being busy, she rarely found time for
purposeful, family reflection.
She stopped looking at the dirty dishes, assuming that they
were evidence of Daren sitting around all day. Instead, Sandra started washing the dishes. She realized that this was not his mess, but their
mess, and started pitching in more.
She stopped worrying about the house, and paid more
attention to the children’s development. She observed how happy they were, and
marveled at the kind of relationship they shared with their father. She noticed at times a cluttered house, and
really happy, bright kids.
Father, thank You for the gift of family. Bless them with Your favor. Provide for all their needs. Protect them from harm and evil. Surround them in the shadow of Your wing. And help them appreciate the special skills
they each bring to their family. Amen
