I had a bouquet of dead daffodils on my dinning room table all day today.  It amazes me how quickly beautiful flowers wither and die.  The fragrance goes from heavenly to rotten in the course of a day.  Astounding that we too can go from a glorious mountain top in the morning, to the deepest valley by mid-afternoon. Full of "Yeses" and smiles for our children as the sun ascends, only to melt-down as they do.  

By God's Grace today was not one of those days.  Today my day began bright and early, (or rather dark and early, since the sun had yet to rise.)  I had my tea, read a handful of Psalms, and even enjoyed a hot shower before the boys awoke.  Not usual.  

And so my heart was full and my eyes bright as we began our day together.  

The day was as temperate as my morning had been, and only descended into the Valley in the last hour before bedtime.  Since my husband is on a business trip tonight, I tucked all three man-cubs into their beds on my own. It was then that I began to lose my patience.  The chapter of "Little Men" I'd offered to my eldest was taken away because of tired fits, (his not mine) which only made him cry harder.  Finally he calmed down and asked me in a gentle voice "Please Mama, please read me a few pages.  I'll calm down now.  Please, Mama."  My withered daffodils reminded me to finish strong, to bloom to the end of the dying day, and to give a fragrant "Yes" even when "no" would seemingly end both our exhausted sufferings. 

And so I told him to wait patiently on his bed. I took a few moments to throw away my dead flowers and clean the vase, and felt renewed by the action.  And when I came to him, with our cherished novel tucked under my arm and a glass of water in my hand, he smiled.  

There are ups, so many ups.  And there are downs, so many downs.  The miracle of God's work in my life on these ordinary days is when I feel myself descending and sense my attitude starting to reek, and then experience His lifting.  HIs gracious lifting.  His breath giving strength to my heart and to my hands.  His love anointing my lips to smile, speak words of life, and persevere just a few minutes more.

Today His sun rose and set on the beautiful bouquet of my life.  By his Grace.

Now the children are all asleep and I want to reread the verses I had read this mornings.  I want to end this day on the mountaintop, take in the view, and say Praise Be and Goodnight with a shout!

Praise Be!

Goodnight.