September 24, 2008 | Mama Smith

a different morning

A typical morning around here usually involves chugging down a massive mug of coffee while feeding kiddos, scraping oatmeal off the floor and out of hair (Levi’s, of course), then shooing them away to play in their room while I attempt to get our house ready for the day. Unload and load dishwasher, straighten breakfast mess, make beds, pick up randomly placed toys, clothes, and wet diapers (gross, I know), scoop up dog poop from the poorly chosen dumping area Kai has picked right outside our back door.

But this morning was different. This week has been different. My heart has been wrung out and is emotionally deflated. As a dear friend has gone through a wearing ordeal and we’ve all been apart of walking with her and her family through it. It has made me raw. And realize that the spiritual realm is just that much more real. That the fall has really screwed everything over. That we are truly broken, weak and needy people. And that is going to exhibit itself in a whole host of ways during our time here on earth. This friend has been such an incredible support, encouragement and comfort for me over this past year. She has an amazing gift of being passionate and full of life over the freedom of the gospel while tender and deeply invested in whoever is seated in front of her. While there are many aspects to what’s going on, there is an undeniable aspect of spiritual attack happening as well. And it has made me thoroughly pissed at the cunning of Satan who goes after the most beautiful and precious parts of who we are at times.

But in the midst of this all, I have felt snapped out of the humdrum survival mode of life and have been surprised to find myself talking to Jesus constantly throughout the day. It’s amazing how desperation causes one to come back to life, and suddenly realize just how numb they’d been, simply wading through life. When the shit hits the fan, we realize just what a crazy, wild battle it is that we’re fighting in.

So this morning, the oatmeal is crusting to the floor, the beds are unmade, toys scatter the house, wet diapers are piled in the hallway, oatmeal-splattered pjs still grace the boys, and my cold coffee mug waits for me on the counter.

But the windows have been flung open with the crisp fall air filling each room. The fire place has been cranked up with a pile of pillows and freshly read books nearby. The art supplies scatter the floor, with the boys covered in glitter glue and stickers. And just before Levi headed down for his morning nap, we danced ourselves silly to the new Old Crow Medicine Show tunes.

It was clear to me through the giggles and repeated hugs/kisses from the boys that we all three needed to feel alive again this morning. And to simply enjoy being sons & daughters of the King who IS reigning and ushering us home to Him through this mess of life.

Pictures are of our insanely beautiful trip to a Hendersonville orchard this weekend and one of our enjoyment of this morning. That and Levi, who has recently been enjoying hanging out in Kai’s kennel. A dangerous place to be for a tired mom who just might be tempted to leave you in there.