As a corollary to yesterday’s post about the Game of Life, I am reminded of a parable of Jesus:

Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, saying, "In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man. “There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, 'Give me legal protection from my opponent.' For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, 'Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.'" And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge said; now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them?

Here are a few facts about me:

* I hate driving. Feel blessed for the privilege, but in actuality, because of my ADD, I hate driving.
* I’m not a morning person. Never have been, and having a child who needs to be checked often during the night only solidifies my “night owl” status.
* I am going through menopause with a ferocity mankind has yet to witness in the documented history of the world.

You need to know and understand this about me in order for the following to truly make sense:

My son’s blood sugar was high last night, and I generally can’t sleep until I know his number is coming down. Add to that, our local Park and Recreation Department opened its online sign-ups for summer shortly after midnight.

This morning was our Homeschool Choir class, and the class is a good 25 minute drive from our home. I knew in advance after my late night, and having an early class so far away first thing this morning, the morning was going to be one slap-dash after another. As I always do, I sprinkle reminders liberally throughout the morning, giving the kids a verbal countdown, and peppering my conversation with gems like, “OK, brush teeth, we’ve got about 10 minutes before we leave!” and “Does everyone have shoes and socks on?” and “Grab your music folders from the Wednesday bin and put them by the door!”

So, naturally, as is often the case, even with my numerous reminders, we were still looking like we were going to be late (and in fact, we arrived a few minutes after class began). At that point, my oldest still needed to do a couple of things, so I unlocked the truck and asked the two younger to get in, since it takes the youngest forever to strap himself in and he bristles at the offer of help from anyone. Well, his sister took off running and the screen door shut on her younger brother, causing him to trip and fall. He was fine (in the sense that there were no scratches or blood), but my oldest took the opportunity to rebuke me by saying I had rushed them out of the door. In my sleep-deprived, pre-period hormonal burst of menopausal adrenaline, I got pretty upset and began blubbering. As we headed into the truck and for most of the drive, I berated them by telling them that I felt that they were pretty ungrateful and, that, as kids, they probably would not understand the totality of their unappreciative state until they were much older. But, I told them that I do give them tons of warnings about what is coming next and how much time we have left and it is their responsibility if they don’t heed what I’m saying. As I am getting ready as well, I can’t monitor every single thing and thus I give them the verbal reminders. They had to shamefacedly agree that this is true. I had stayed up late with my oldest as well as getting the classes for them, and told them that after each class, they hint around for more: “Are we going out to eat, Mom?” or “Hey, the toy store is right over there, you know…” I said after all I did, I was a little tired of the hands constantly being out for more….and, then…..WHAMMO! It struck me on the head…Like David of old, “Thou art the man!” (2 Samuel 12:7)

How often do I fall asleep in exhaustion in the middle of my prayers at night? How often do I ask God for things, right after He’s answered yet another of my constant petitions? I thank Him in my prayers, but is that more a dutiful, “I should?” (like my kids saying a quick, “Sorry” to each other after an infraction) rather than a “need” to express my devotion and thankfulness to Him for all He’s blessed me with and continues to bless me with? Do I consider Him, or do I just go along thinking of just "me, me, poor pitiful me?" He gives us warnings and reminders in His word, but, like my kids, do I push it? Ignore them? Say I'll get "around to it"...?

I’m not really sure who learned more today, me or the kids, but I truly am thankful that God’s word resonated in my heart and helped me to realize how I’m not so different from my kids, before Mean Mama Menopause got any further...

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