Thankful Tuesdays: At the end of the day...

... there is wet laundry still hanging inside the house, soaked from the rain as you couldn't bring it in as you had to nurse a tired child.  There is a mess of toys scattered in the living room, despite your efforts to instill clean-up times.  There is the throbbing head and its unresolved headache.  There has been poop to clean up from accidents in underpants, seemingly never-ending dishes to wash and meals to cook, amidst the background of non-stop drilling from an estate improvement project nearby.

But first, there is the little child that needs you to put him to bed.  The ritual of brushing teeth, milk, and bedtime stories.  The nightly prayer.  Then he wants you to sing.  And the lyrics hang in the night air:

"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,

That saved a wretch like me,

I once was lost but now am found,

Was blind but now I see... 

Then verses later...

"When we've been there ten thousand years,

Bright shining as the sun,

We've no less days to sing God's praise,

Than when we first begun."

You hear some of the lyrics being whispered by the little boy.  He then wants "There is a higher throne".  So we keep singing...

"There is a higher throne, 

Than all this world has known,

Where faithful ones from every tongue,

Will one day come.

Before the Son we'll stand,

Made faultless through the Lamb;

Believing hearts find promised grace-

Salvation comes.

Hear heaven's voices sing;

Their thunderous anthem rings

Through emerald courts and sapphire skies,

Their praises rise.

All glory, wisdom, power,

Strength, thanks and honour are,

To God our King, who reigns on high,

Forevermore."

At the end of the day, we are reminded that we've been through a day of grace.  That a day of hope has passed, where we can keep looking forward to heaven, and trusting that there is a higher throne.  And at the end of the day... we realized we are so so blessed with little things to be grateful for:

:: A patient Papa.  Who draws zebras on demand, and brings the little boy for walks to let me have a break....

:: Helpful grandmas that don't mind getting their hands dirty with playdough...

:: Flowers that burst with colour and give rise to fruits... that hide seeds that contain new life...

:: Sunny days.  That bring forth visits to the zoo.  And floppy hats that keep out the sun.

::  Simple toys that keep little hands occupied and minds busy:

At the end of the day... we give thanks.  What are you thankful for today?