No Qualifications Necessary

This morning started off rocky.

I'm still working out the kinks of a school routine,
which when educating children at home means
not only book work, chores, and meals,
but also a lot of restarts, false starts, and second chances.

There is also rather a lot of character training
-theirs and possibly more often, mine.

Days that start off like this day did
make me doubt my qualification for this job.
But I'm not a mother because I'm qualified.
I have this mothering job because it was handed me
(quite generously actually)
probably because I'm not (qualified, or even good at it)
and through my imperfectness God makes
something beautiful.
Isn't that the story of redemption?  And it plays out in my life
every. single. day.

Start, fail, repent, restart, falter, forgive, receive mercy,
extend grace, second chance, and so on.

I am reminded by my faithful sojourner
softly, and without reprimand 
for my pregnancy hormones and emotional tears,
that this was never about a flawless system for educating them
(our children)
or a seamless flow of family life, chores, creativity, and learning.

We step boldly (and sometimes gingerly)
into another already sin-tainted day
because we believe these ones who are shorter than us
for only a while, are important people.
People with a character I'm responsible to help shape.
And they're becoming some of the neatest people I know!
Truly, it's a wonder to watch.
THAT is the fruit of faithful perseverance and God's grace.

I get to be a part of it.

In light of all this, I dry my tears and start the next bit of day fresh.
I may not be qualified, but I know what I'm doing and why.