Moose, Muffins & a Mom's A.D.D.

So, my 2 year old son, randomly picked the book "If You Give a Moose a Muffin" off of the shelf at the library the other day. As I read it, I could totally relate to the Moose. In fact, I think I am the moose! Laura Numeroff wrote a whole series of these funny books- "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" was the first one.
Anyway, a boy offers a moose a muffin. The moose then asks for more muffins, until the boy has to go to the store to get more and the moose wants to go with, so he asks for a sweater since it is cold outside. When he puts the sweater on, he notices a loose button. He then needs a needle an thread, which remind him of puppets his grandmother used to make, so he looks for some old socks to make puppets. Through many more diversions during this ordeal, he ends up outside and notices blackberries, which remind him of jam, and then he asks for a muffin to go with it.

The part I relate to is not the constant asking of things. It is how the moose is constantly sidetracked!!! I talk to so many moms who can relate, otherwise, I might start to think I really do have Attention Deficit Disorder. I guess it's that we are constantly in a state of multi-tasking. Although, I'm always saying that the more simple life is one I strive for. Omit the clutter (physical and mental)!

Some examples:
-How many times a day do you go upstairs, stand there and try your hardest to think, "Why did I come up here?'

I know I have a BAZILLION other examples, but cannot think of one right now! I think my brain is tired. But, I will leave you with a real life example that just happened...

-You're updating your blog, a new email comes in, which prompts you to forward it. You can't find the address to that person, but you know it was in an email from your husband, so you sort your email by his name. While looking for that email, you notice there are some really old and irrelevant emails from him and delete those as you go along. Before you ever get to find the email address you are looking for, you remember that you are writing a blog entry.

Just the tip of the iceberg. A single example from one certain hour in the day....

Can you relate?

Andi

PS: Better go find that email address!

Shots and Suckers

Handle this.... And you'll get this:

That's what we told our kids this morning as we lined them all up on the bench awaiting their annual flu vaccinations. Jackie bravely took the chair first, got the shot and promplty got his reward of a sucker. Jillian followed the same way. Joey figured out the trick-- if I sit on Papa's lap in the chair, then I will get a sucker. He was begging to get up in that chair! But... it was Jenna's turn. But... Jenna was obviously disturbed and not going to get in that chair, so Joey got to go before her. The nurse put that bowl of suckers right in front of him as the nurse got the shot ready for him. His eyes fixed on the suckers, he barely flinched when she actually administered the shot, and then claimed his prize, opened it and indulged. Jenna, still disturbed, had to be held down, wouldn't look at the suckers, got the shot and was inconsolable. Her eyes still fixed on the needle and the nurse who inflicted the pain, she could care less there was a sucker awaiting her.

As I watched this, I realized this was a microscopic picture of trials in life, but the hope we have of rewards and eternal life in heaven. Yes, our troubles are much bigger than a shot. But... if we can remember to keep our eyes fixed not on the trial, but the reward, the shot will not seem so bad after all. Keep our eyes fixed on the shot, and we get caught up in the here and now, and completely lose sight of the end goal. Easier said than done..... but here is what the Creator of heaven and earth says about this:

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:2-3