I’m spending each day here in the month of October writing about finding beauty in the everyday mess.  Before you think I’m an expert on this topic, let me confess: I’ve likely already lost my temper, prayed that I could have a solo vacation, and held back frustrated tears this morning.  I’m far from having this mastered.  I’m writing here transparently so that you and I might grow in seeking His daily extravagant beauty.  So pull up a chair and get ready to dive into the mess with me, knowing that somewhere in this mess is a beauty that only God can craft.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

The toddler boy wakes at some pitch dark hour and snuggles in tight under my covers.  His face is pressed hard into my hair, like breathing in my fragrance is enough to stop the molar pain.  The pain of growing something new.

The night is short. The morning is early with the little boy already out of bed and turning door knobs before the sun is up. It’s the same nap time offense we wrestled with during his entire “nap” yesterday.

My weary body begs for relief.  For rest, and also sleep.  I am promised rest in that Word, but not sleep.

So I bury my head in the neck of Jesus. I breath in the fragrance of His Word.  Then I rise to hold the two year old boy struggling with pain and disobedience.  He and I, we’re an awful lot alike.