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I want to share a few “motherhood” life lessons from a compilation book in which I contributed, along with author-friends from throughout the country. Enjoy these short snippets taken from it:

Laundry Tales to Lighten Your Load

A Prickly Tale: (Judy Dippel) – I raced up the stairs and called, “Mom, Mom! There’s ‘a thing’ in the laundry room.” Mom was on the phone. She flashed me the stern look that said in no uncertain terms, “Later … be quiet!” … “But Mom, it’s this long and this high, with beady eyes.” The crux of the story: My mom panicked when she finally opened our laundry room door to find a porcupine. The rest is history …

Life Lesson: Sometimes we put off our kids demands, especially when we are busy, but we might want to consider stopping, looking and listening! It can be dangerously “prickly” if we don’t. ______________________________

Washtime Woes: (Jami Kirkbride) – I swallowed hard and bit my lip. I didn’t want to say a word. My husband had tried so hard, and I didn’t want him to think I hadn’t appreciated his help. “Hey!” he popped his head around the doorway, “I got three loads done!” … “I see, I said, as thoughts of other ruined outfits flitted through my mind. “Thanks.”

Fresh Perspective: Count your blessings that he is willing. A husband’s help doesn’t ensure everything will be done the way you would do it. Try to see it not as wrong … just different. ______________________________

Tiny Laundry: (Tonya Holter) When I think back to the baby-soft loads of booties, bibs and blankets, I have to laugh. With three teens now, the size of the loads and the size of the clothes are much larger. I wish I could tell you I still love sorting their clothes, but I can’t. It’s a constant chore. But I do stop and think what life will bring for my children, because I won’t be doing their laundry forever. I treasure the time I have with them.

Fresh Perspectives and Load Lighteners: Remember that behind every successful mom … is a basket of dirty laundry. –Unknown ______________________________

“Sharing our dirty laundry with others might help lighten our load.” –Kathy Pride

“Happiness does not depend on perfection. Happiness is when you decide to see beyond the imperfections.” –Brenda Mayfield

“My noisy dryer reminded me, I needed to call Maytag. Likewise, I want my kids to call on me for questions they have in their lives.” –Sandra Stanford

“Buy each of your children different brands of socks; that way, it’s easier to spot who they belong to.” –Sandy McKeown

“Add a dry towel to a dryer full of wet clothes. They will dry faster.” –Kathy Firkins

“Children can learn to sort laundry at an early age. Keeping a divided hamper in a child’s room teaches colors and sorting skills, clothing care, and personal responsibility.” –Marilyn Nutter ______________________________

From Judy: Today, I pray for your family, and trust that, as you ask, God’s touch will encompass each person within it. As your heart swells with love for your children, remember it is God that placed that love there. It holds a powerful God-given strength that makes a tremendous difference in the lives you touch.