This may well be a rant.

Today is Thursday.

Every Thursday the same thing happens because it is garbage day.

And every Thursday the same thing also happens…everyone forgets it is garbage day except for me.

Reminding those in my house each Wednesday to empty all the garbage cans in preparation for the next day to come is met with the same reaction:

                 “Why do we have to empty the garbage?”

                  ” I did it last week why do I have to do it again?”

                    “I forgot to do it”….even though the exact same reminder is there EVERY WEEK ON THE FRIDGE.

Emptying the garbage in the house is only half the battle: we still need to get the can to the curb in time for the garbage truck to come and do what it does with it.

Apparently, this is also something that only I can remember because of the five in this household, if it is forgotten, the responsibility of that act falls on my shoulders as the rest are seemingly clueless that this happens ON THE SAME DAY EACH WEEK.

As I lugged the big can out of the snow bank my sons had buried it in when they shoveled the snow this week (thank you for that extra effort guys), I found myself feeling despondent.

In my 18 years of marriage, I have long since figured out it is never the laundry, the toilet paper roll, OR the garbage that is the issue….there is always something deeper.

Fifteen minutes after getting it to the curb, the truck came to empty it.

I made it just in time!

It is a simple, uncelebrated, unrecognized victory.

And that was where the sadness came into play….

Somewhere inside this yoga pants wearing, pony tail sporting, doing dishes at 7 in the morning, part time working RN dealing with a ton of unwanted work stress and responsibility, part time ministry student, wife, daughter, mother of teen boys I feel myself screaming to be SEEN.

I am MORE than the one who annoys you with my enthusiasm over your life skills and concern over your well-being.

I am MORE than the only one who takes the time to make dinner in this house.

I am MORE than a poor substitute Department Manager.

I am MORE than your cheerleader.

I am MORE than your other half.

I am MORE.

I have feelings.

I get scared.

I get lonely.

I need hugs.

I like to be wanted and not just needed.

I have opinions that want to be heard.

I should be valued and appreciated as a functioning member of society.

I am smart.

I am funny.

I love deeply.

I hurt easily.

1 Chronicles 28:20 is King David talking to his son Solomon. David had received all the plans from the Lord to rebuild the Temple…but God told him he would not be the one to have the honor of doing the task- his son would.

He tells his son all the details he would need to know to get this enormous task completed. And then he gives him encouragement:

Be strong and courageous.

DO THE WORK.

Do not be afraid or discouraged…

for MY God is with you.

He will NOT fail you or leave you

until ALL the work for the service of the Lord is completed.

Do not be discouraged for God will not leave me until the task is completed that He created me to do…that He placed me in a position to complete.

Do not be discouraged???

Another mundane task quickly turned into a messy frustration while vacuuming the stairs…

My God will not leave me until the work He has set before is completed…

So…DO THE WORK AMY.

My God is a God who sees me…

He knows me….and knows what I need… because He created me.

He knows I am more than I appear.

The Bible says to ask and you will receive….

Well, Lord, I ask that the desires of my heart would be met because they are Your will for my life. I ask that the hurts of my heart would be taken care of because you are close to those who are hurting. I ask that my purpose would be found in YOU. I ask to be content with what I am currently enduring through and see the lessons you will have me learn while in this place of being seemingly unseen. Thank You for hearing me…

Psalm 34:4

I sought the Lord and he answered me.

He delivered me from all my fears.

Those who look to Him are radiant:

their faces are never covered in shame.

No matter the size of the task, it will never have a chance to get done until you start it.