I am having a day....

As I was trying to get my 20 month old daughter dressed this morning I realized that it is like trying to nail Jello to the wall. As a mother of four, I should know by now that life with kids never quite goes as planned. Did she not know that I had laundry to do, groceries to get, other kids to get off to school and a to do list that was growing by the minute? No, my beautiful baby girl did not seem to be sympathetic in the least. She had decided that today was a great day to spend in her favourite P.J.'s. Now I can understand. It is April 2nd and they are calling for snow at the end of the week so maybe she is right and P.J.'s should be at the top of my priority list. The problem is that I just don't have time for her protest today. As a family, we have a very busy week and I need to get moving or our lives will look like when the laundry does not get done for a couple of days.
As I tried to convince my precious bundle of joy that jeans, socks and a sweatshirt are just as cool as P.J.'s, I could feel my patience slipping away. "Oh please Lord.." I prayed. "Give me patience today, give me extra minutes, and give me something to convince my daughter not to wear her P.J.'s to the grocery store." As I prayed, I was overwhelmed by the fact that Jesus was listening. In my mind, I can see Him listening intently. He does not brush me off and say that this struggle or my prayer for help is not important. To Him, whatever I tell Him is important. He is listening with compassion and understanding that at this moment and all others I need Him. I quietly begin to sing:

"I need Thee ev'ry hour,

Most gracious Lord;

No tender voice like Thine

Can peace afford.

I need thee, Oh I need Thee;

Ev'ry hour I need Thee!

O bless me now, my Savior,

I come to Thee."

In the 1800's this beautiful hymn was written by Annie Hawks a thirty-seven year old homemaker from Brooklyn, New York. The words came to her as she was busy with her household chores. I wonder if she was having a day like mine?