Renewed Joy

Almost 8 years ago when we were first married I remember commenting to a good friend how much I LOVED doing laundry! It's so funny to me now looking back on it! I felt so important and worthy by simply doing my husband's and my laundry.

Times have changed. The newness and joy have worn off over the years. Replacing it is an overwhelming sense of frustration that this task (and others) will NEVER be able to be simply checked off my list!

Today I was reading in my Bible in the book of Proverbs. The second portion of the 31st chapter is a beautiful model of a woman of noble character. As I read this today I started realizing the special and invaluable importance of my role as a wife and mom. Just by doing my day to day chores! I love what it says starting in verse 10:

"A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life...She sets about her work vigorously...Her husband is respected at the city gates...Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her...charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised."

There are so many life changing lessons that can be pulled from the above verses but what struck me today was that she brings her husband GOOD, that her husband is respected because she is the very first one to respect him in the morning and continues all throughout the day until they go to bed at night. One way she can achieve this is when she "sets about her work vigorously".

I started thinking about all that still had to get done today. How joyful is my attitude as I serve my husband and boys? Am I really worth more than rubies to my husband?

At that point I dug down deep and found that God had given me a renewed joy for all the work that still needed to get done. And I can honestly say that it was 100% genuine joy! I could not believe it! I was smiling away as I was folding laundry!

I know that when I get up tomorrow and face the same tasks I may feel once again bogged down but if I keep this image of a loving, respectful, hard working woman -- a woman who's children and husband call her blessed, I believe that I can be filled with joy again tomorrow.

A renewed sense of purpose. Renewed joy.