Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Work (07/27/06)
-
TITLE: Dear Lord, Can I Resign? | Previous Challenge Entry
By Betsy Markman
08/01/06 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
Can I resign?
It’s not that I don’t love my husband and children. You know I do. It’s just that…well…You remember the prophet Isaiah? He was a lot stronger than I’ll ever be, and do You remember what he said? He said, “But my work all seems so useless! I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose at all.” Well, he might as well have been a housewife.
Lord, what’s the point of washing these sheets every day when the kids are just going to wet them again every night? How am I supposed to know who left this toy on the stairs when they all say they didn’t do it? Why don’t they care about their things, or mine? Why don’t they appreciate anything I do for them?
Why do I have to repeat the same instructions a hundred times a day? You know they never learn, Lord. I might as well talk to the walls.
Sometimes I get so stir-crazy that I do talk to the walls!
People with paying jobs don’t have this problem. No one comes and completely sweeps away every sign of their efforts as soon as they’ve finished making them. When I finish cleaning I turn around to see that three tornadoes have wrecked everything. You can’t tell I worked at all.
What kind of miserable job is this?
Is this what I gave up my career for? I didn’t mind it at the time, Lord. I thought it would be a greater blessing to be home with my children.
Where’s the blessing? I could use a good dose of it right now.
The kids are bickering again. It’s the same old argument they’ve already had fifty times today. Do You know what I would give for a home that’s calm and peaceful and full of love?
The truth is, I resent the fact that I’ve asked You to bless me in this work, and You haven’t done it! I’m just as frustrated and unfulfilled as ever.
To be fair, I’ll give You another chance. Please bless me while I clean this toilet. Really. I mean it.
Yeah, sure. That’s just what I thought would happen. Nothing.
This Sunday we sang about “Showers of Blessings.” How come I never get those? How come the only showers I get are the ones I have to scrub?
How do I turn on those showers we sang about?
Oh, look at that boy! Dirt from head to toe, and he’s tracked it all over the carpet. And just look at that impish grin.
You’re lucky you’re so cute, little man. If you weren’t, I’d wring your neck!
Well no, not really, of course. I would never do that.
What did You say, Lord?
Okay, You’re right. I’m sorry I’ve been feeling sorry for myself. But am I wrong to want You to keep Your promises? Why won’t you bless me in my work?
Now what are You saying? “It’s more blessed to give than to receive?” Well, I know that’s what You said. But I’m giving and giving, and the blessings just don’t follow!
What do You mean, “What about this boy in front of me?” He’s one of the ones I’m slaving away for, isn’t he?
Oh. Ouch.
I guess if I’m “slaving” for him then I can’t be blessing him, can I? Not really. Not if I’m grumbling at him in my heart.
Lord, please make me a blessing to this little boy with his dirty cherub face. Please bless him through what I do for him, and in the way I do it for him. Please bless him with this clean toilet that I’m going to provide, and the clean sheets, and the lessons in orderliness. Please bless him with my consistency and my patience and my cheerful willingness….
Oh Father, please forgive me. I’ve been a rotten kid today, haven’t I?
You did it! You used me to bless him! I was like a pitcher that You poured blessings from. And you know what? Your blessings don’t pour like water. They pour like oil, and oil clings.
Is that how it works? When I act as Your pitcher, some of Your blessings cling to me?
Maybe this job isn’t so bad after all.
(Scripture quotes are from Isaiah 49:4 and Acts 20:35b, New Living Translation)
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.