mama...mama...mama....mama...MAMA...MAMA...MAAAAMAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!

Two years ago my four boys were home from school for a 'snow day.' I love it when they get to stay home, even though my dreams of four happy snow-suited boys playing nicely together outside all day while I sit by the fire with a good book are unrealistic and never happen. On this particular day I decided by 8 a.m. that the buses probably would have made it just fine on those ice-covered roads. As I was running around trying to meet my boys' requests for toast and juice and trying to keep the peace between them I decided to kind of make a game out of it for myself. I had always wondered how many times I heard the word "mama" during a day, so I decided to count. I counted only the "MAMAS" that required me to DO something…like get them something or answer a question or watch an amazing ninja roll off the couch. 

I started at 8 a.m. and finished at 4 p.m. The grand total? 

146.

I knew it would be a lot but even I was surprised at that number. No wonder I'm pretty tired. 

What I thought of a few days later though startled me a little bit. 

At the time I had four children asking me for food and help and love and attention. God has about seven billion.

It tries my patience to get through each day…what a miracle for us that God has infinite patience for each one of us!

Psalm 86:15
But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.