There were dishes to wash, laundry to fold, diapers to change and events that required my attention when normal people were sleeping. Peanut butter was smeared on the couch; Crayon on the walls; A million toys everywhere; and it was my responsibility to take care of it all.

Many times late at night, as I threw my battered body on the couch after a long day of battle, I was left to ponder one question? When will it be my turn? When will I get 5 minutes to myself? How about a massage? How about a maid? How about a phone call without children screaming in the background? How about a shower? When will the "I" be back in my vocabulary?

Then something would happen. And as I pondered life's most daunting question, I was reminded of the truth. Like many things in life, it was the difficult journeys that were filled with the most joy and happiness. But how could giving every ounce of my being to others be joyous? It just was and I knew it. And it wasn't just joy. It made my life complete.

The truth is, it had been my turn all along. My turn to love. My turn to bandage scraped knees and to dry little tears. My turn to answer life's most difficult questions. My turn to watch an angel sleep. My turn to hear the words "I love you" from the most beautiful voices in the world.

It was my turn to put another person's needs before my own. My turn to be a mother.

So go ahead. Throw cheerios on the floor. Scream and yell and laugh. Hide and seek and play to your heart's content. Track mud onto the floor. Rearrange the furniture. Throw toys in the toilet. Even let the snake out of its cage; it will turn up one of these days.

Yes, I will get tired and irritated and want to jump off a cliff now and then, but I will always remember one thing. I am the luckiest woman in the world and I have loved every minute.

I've heard that free time is overrated anyway....

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends". John 15:13

Shelley Spady/Living 31 Ministries 2010

Ever heard of the Hatfield’s and McCoy’s? It was a feud that escalated between two pioneer families in West Virginia and Kentucky. It continued on for years and ended up with twenty- four people dead, twelve from each family. They call it "Bad Blood". Tragically, sometimes prejudices are passed from generation to generation, children are taught to hate. That should never happen in a Christian home. Anyone can hate, it takes courage and God’s help to forgive! You might respond “But they don’t deserve forgiveness!”

That may be true. But the question begs to be asked, "Did you and do you?"

C.S.Lewis: "Everyone says forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they have something to forgive." Know this, when we harbor resentment and fail to forgive we grieve the Holy Spirit. The word ‘grieve’ means to make sad or sorrowful.

Here is God's word on the matter. "And do not bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way you live." Remember, he is the one who has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, Slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you." (Eph 4:30-32) written by G. Laurie

If you need prayer we are here for you. Click on Need prayer

"No, who are you?"

"I'm the new associate at your local church," the pastor replied. "When I saw the empty chair, I figured you knew I was going to show up." "Oh yeah, the chair," said the bedridden man. "Would you mind closing the door?"

Puzzled, the pastor shut the door. "I've never told anyone this, not even my daughter," said the man. "But all of my life I have never known how to pray. At church I used to hear the pastor talk about prayer, but it always went right over my head." I abandoned any attempt at prayer," the old man continued, "until one day about four years ago my best friend said to me, "Joe, prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with Jesus."

Here's what I suggest, "Sit down on a chair, place an empty chair in front of you, and in faith see Jesus on the chair. It's not spooky because he promised, I'll be with you always. Then just speak to him and listen in the same way you're doing with me right now."

"So, I tried it and I've liked it so much that I do it a couple of hours every day. I'm careful, though. If my daughter saw me talking to an empty chair, she'd either have a nervous breakdown or send me off to the funny farm."

The pastor was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the old guy to continue on the journey. Then he prayed with him, and returned to the church.

Two nights later the daughter called to tell the pastor that her daddy had died that afternoon.

"Did he seem to die in peace?" he asked.

"Yes, when I left the house around two o'clock, he called me over to his bedside, told me one of his corny jokes, and kissed me on the cheek. When I got back from the store an hour later, I found him dead. But there was something strange, In fact, beyond strange ~ kinda weird. Apparently, just before Daddy died, he leaned over and rested his head on a chair beside the bed."

Author unknown