It was one of those weeks. I think you know what I'm talking about. I'm not talking about the kind that passed by in a vaguely uniform fashion, leaving only a small blip of memorable happenings on the ever-running log of time. I'm talking about of one those weeks that brings you to the breaking point and back again. The kind that makes you rethink what the heck you are doing and why on earth you are doing it.
It's not that anything catastrophic happened. There wasn't actually any one event that would define this type of a week. It was all of the small things added together to make one large mess that made the week what it was. I really believe that everything was the result of a mild stomach bug that was passing through the family, coupled with dreary weather and fluctuating hormones. That's it. Nothing spectacular. In a family of seven, however, that can lead to a number of interesting events. Events such as being struck in the forehead by pencil-point by an angry six year old refusing to do his schoolwork, a bare foot stepping into the cool feeling of urine-soaked carpet (I hope my landlord isn't reading this), two separate occasions of a diaper leaking fluid solids and saturating an entire outfit to the point where the wriggling toddler must be stripped naked and washed before reconstruction can begin, a constipated baby that spits up frequently on your last clean shirt, a four-year old that doesn't feel well and cries the entire day, and feeling like you're behind all day long.
I wasn't sure at first that I wanted to attend the women's ministry event at the church this Friday evening. I really just wanted to stay home and rest. Then I started thinking. A relaxed evening at the church watching a movie WOULD be a rest! It was informal enough to bring a baby and I could get away from the house for a few hours. My mom was going to be there and I was really missing her. I packed up a blanket for the baby to lay on while watching the movie and some pillows for sitting on and away I went.
The movie was Julie & Julia. I was not familiar with the story of Julia Child and really didn't know what I was in for. The premise of the movie is that the main character, Julie, decides to work through Julia Child's cookbook and make every recipe in 365 days. She blogs about her experiences as she works along. While her story is being told, they simultaneously tell the story of Julia Child and how she becomes a cook and eventually writes a cookbook. Both find joy through their process but only after persevering through some difficult moments.
I could totally relate. When I was first married, I could not cook at all. Most of the dishes I made were from meals packaged in boxes or cans. Spaghetti was the most complicated dish I made and I really wasn't very good at that either. I found cooking a waste of time and despised the pile of dishes that would be left afterward. As our family grew and our budget shrank, I began to try to make things from scratch. I wasn't excited about the idea. I couldn't fathom spending an hour cooking supper. They say that necessity is the mother of invention. In my case that was completely true. I started paying more attention to cook books and trying new recipes. I began to make my own bread with a bread maker, then my own rolls from scratch. Now I make my own pizza crust, bread sticks and all sorts of other items. What surprised me the most was the day I realized I actually enjoyed cooking. There was just something about making something delicious out of simple, basic ingredients. I liked to create! If I had not been faced with a need to try baking, or the difficult circumstances that ultimately created the need, I would not have found joy in it.
I was reminded tonight that the "difficult moments"often precede or coincide with the things that bring the greatest joy. My week was full of "difficult moments." I guess it is no surprise that it was also full of moments of joy. There was the joy of seeing Asa, now feeling better, sing his way throughout the house. There was the joy of seeing Kaleb reenact his favorite Charlie Brown movie, and of receiving Kaden's specialty spider tickles. The joy of witnessing Molly's first time rolling over. The joy of fixing Kaira's hair for ballet class.
Sometimes, when in the middle of the tough times, it can be difficult to remember that there will be an end. It can be hard to think that all of that yucky stuff can be worth it. Sometimes all we can do is just keep running and hope we reach the other side. The thing to remember is that it IS all worth it. The trials WILL NOT go on forever. This life is only a moment on the spectrum of eternity. I write this to encourage myself as well as you. Hang in there and don't quit so that one day we may say as Paul did in 2 Timothy 4:7 "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day."
