This week has been a hard week. I have been really busy with work, and another round of sickness is making its way through our house. It has been hard to stay focused on the important things. Some days it feels like I am in "survival mode" just to make it through the day. It is on those days that I try to remember why it (this crazy busy life of work and family and a house) is all worth it. Here are my thoughts...
I take care of my family because...
...it brings me joy. You know, that deep-down, inexplainable feeling of "rightness"? That's how I feel when I take care of my family. Even when it's hard to take care of them and I feel pulled in 90 million directions at once, I do my best to have a servant attitude. I try to remember that they are God's children too, and I have the privilege of taking care of them for just a short time. This helps me to stay focused on why it is important for me to do what I can to make their day just a little brighter. Truly, every time I think about my husband or my son (or anyone for that matter) being God's child, it changes my whole perspective on how I treat them. Try it...
I take care of my work because...
...it is good to share my talents and learn new things. I like giving student's feedback on their work and praising them for the amazing thinkers that they are capable of being. Plus, I am a list person, and I get satisfaction from clearing out my email inbox, grading pile, and to do list for the day. Some days, my list seems to be a repeat of the day before, but that's okay. I know it will all get done eventually. I just might not sleep very much until it does... :) Sometimes I get frustrated when things don't seem to operate efficiently, and I get annoyed that I have to do "extra" work because of it. I won't bore you with an example, but I'm sure anyone who has ever worked anywhere has experienced this feeling. Unless you are some kind of amazingly patient person. Then you have no idea what I'm talking about. Teach me your ways! Anyway, I digress...when I feel frustrated about things like that, I remember that it is a challenge to learn something new and/or find a better way of doing it. At one of my first jobs, I was taught the value of being a "well-rounded" employee. I learned that knowing how to do a lot of different things was a sort of job security. It makes you more valuable than someone who is less willing to learn new tasks or methods. So, even when I have to spend an extra two hours entering dates into a gradebook that should have been entered right the first time, I know it is making me a better person. (Oops, my example snuck in...) I might be getting to practice being more patient, or learning a new angle of my job, or just being able to feel satisfaction from a job well done. Ultimately, I'm not doing it for the accolades from my supervisor, I'm doing it because God expects me to do. He expects me to work for him, and he is one boss I don't want to let down.
So, there you have it. That's what keeps me motivated on the tough days. What keeps you going?
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