It's Tuesday, or Gratituesday as I've come to know it.  Ironically Tuesday is the toughest day of the week for me to practice a Grateful Spirit because it's Laundry Day for this Mama.  

Knowing Laundry day is a challenge for me I have two things hung above my washing machine to keep me moving when I'd rather let the laundry sit in heaps.  The first is a darling sign my Mother bought for me a couple years ago that reads:  

MOTHERS OF BOYS

WORK FROM SON UP

TO SON DOWN.  

It makes me laugh, though I do beg to differ - my version would say, "This mother of boys works from Son up to Husband down."  Can I get a witness?  And the other thing that's hung at eye level in the laundry room is an old and tattered piece of paper with these words written upon it:  

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not man, since you know... it is the Lord Christ you are serving.  (Colossians 3:23-24)

It's a reminder for me to serve my family as serving the Lord Himself, who gave them to me.  When I grumble as I switch out loads, I'm reminded by these words to displace my grumbling with silent prayers of thanksgiving.  "Thank you Lord, for the dirty little creative boy who splattered paint on this shirt.  Thank you that we have our washing machine here in the house to make this job easier on me.  Thank you that when it breaks down I have a husband who either fixes it or calls to have a repair man come out.  Thank you for all of these modern day appliances.  You know I wouldn't have made a very good Pioneer woman, Lord.  O thanks, God... for everything this Laundry Day!"  

When I let it, Laundry Day reminds me that I am not alone, but have a family to love and be loved by. Yes, it's true, they make messes, they continue to get hungry multiple times each day, and they rather like their clothes clean before wearing them again...  Go figure!  But they are mine, and I am there's, and it is a blessing to be a family.  

I love these lyrics by Steven Curtis Chapman.  I should crank it up and put it on repeat each Tuesday as I make my way through 12 loads... again.

Do Everything

You’re picking up toys on the living room floor

for the 15th time today

Matching up socks and sweeping up lost

Cheerios that got away

You put a baby on your hip and color on your lips

and head out the door

And while I may not know you I bet I know you

Wonder sometimes does it matter at all

Well let me remind you it all matters just as long as you

Do everything you do to the glory of the One who made you

Cause He made you to do

Every little thing that you do to bring a smile to His face

And tell the story of grace

With every move that you make

And every little thing you do

"Serve the Lord with gladness!"

(Psalm 100)