there are days when it comes so easily, so naturally – words of gratitude from my lips, for all the fullness of life around me: i’m a mother, a wife, a teacher, a homekeeper.

other times, and sometimes more often than not, i need a bit of coaxing to be thankful for the fullness, the mess, the chaos: another sink full of dishes, another messy table from a chaotic meal, and a full dishwasher waiting to be emptied for the second time in one day: the motions of a busy home.

our ordinary, daily lives are rather extraordinary if you think of it.

Celebrant    Lift up your hearts.
People        We lift them to the Lord.
Celebrant    Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People        It is right to give him thanks and praise.

liturgy (in worship) is cyclical, and repetitive. laundry and dishes and cleaning and cooking are cyclical, repetitive. they are our routine, a never-ending cycle of our days. they are our daily acts of worship. repetitive, cyclical acts of worship in our own home…what an honor to be a part of them!

It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and every-
where to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of
heaven and earth.

i hope today and the rest of this week, as i view that mountain of laundry, the already messy floor from kids’ self-created art projects, and week of dinners, lunches, and breakfasts to plan, i will do so in praise. for i have a mind, a soul, and a body to take care of the lovely, beautiful messy work i’ve been given.