I have been praying for a while about how in the world to have a more peaceful home.  Amidst the neighborhood kids scooting in and out, my kids squawking at each other from time to time, the stress of being a commission-only family income, health problems, PMS, The Man of The Place going through some extra projects at work, and me trying to keep the too-big Castle from either growing fungus or crawling away... well... let's just say I've been a bit overwhelmed.  I actually find myself longing for a quaint little cottage with a wrap around porch, a white picket fence with some sweet smelling roses intertwined here and there, a not-too-big not-too-little yard with stepping stone paths peeking through soft grass, and about 1/4 the junque we find ourselves "needing".   Doesn't that sound like a wonderful place to rest? 

So, as I was "daydreaming" and "feeling so sorry for myself", something jolted me back into reality.  It was a shout directly from the One Who is always so patient with me... my Father... the One Who made me and knows my heart better than any person alive.  Here's what happened...

Today I was driving on a street which goes over the highway near our home.  I was traveling slowly as I was not too eager about getting to the grocery on triple coupon day any faster than I had to.  Well, just as I started to go up onto the bridge, I happened to look to the right onto the highway below.  What I saw just really struck a chord in my soul.

 On the pavement there were giant semi trucks, cars and all kinds of exhaust-spewing vehicles zooming by at speeds surely exceeding the speed limit.  Just beyond the rumble strip... beyond the gravel strip... and down the grassy embankment in the water-swelled ditch... there she was.  A Mama duck and her little duckling were swimming peacefully.  There she was, amidst the noise and chaos of the traffic, the awful smell of diesel fumes and probably the occasional piece of gravel or cigarette butt flying towards her little world.  There she was swimming gently with her baby.  Her peace amidst the chaos!  It hit me between the heart-chambers that we ALL live somewhat amongst the semi trucks, the gravel, the foul smells and the Big Things flying past all too quickly. We live here in this sin-torn world and must find peace through the Lord within its chaos.

That Mama duck wasn't packing her feathers and waddling to the nearest cottage beside a peaceful pond.  She was teaching her little duckling how to survive within a racing, ravaging world!  She kept that little one safe amidst the chaos!

So, there you go.  Now instead of daydreaming about my little cottage, I'm daydreaming about how to be as good a Mama as that little duck is.