There are blessings in just going through the motions

As I go through the motions of cleaning the breakfast dishes I notice my mother is slumped in her chair.  She did not sleep well last night, so I ask her to go lay down.  A few moments later I hear the sound of pooling liquid.  Mother fell asleep in her tea cup!

Going through the motions of cleaning up the spilled tea, I'm thankful it had cooled enough so it did not burn her.

I ask my son for help with folding towels.  He grumbles, but soon appears.  I go through the motions of folding, listening to my son tell me stories about the drawings he has been working on.  The piles are haphazard, but the towels are ready to be put away.  While distributing the clean laundry to their proper places I am thankful to witness his growth, maturity, and imagination.

I'm constantly moving.  Going through the motions of making this, cleaning that, putting something back in order.  My family is oblivious to the demands on my time and energy.  I protect them from the daily problems and issues, they are my concerns.

My son looks in on his grandma.  Is she awake to play?  There is a bond between them.  Somehow they know when the other needs a word of encouragement, or just time to sit in each others presence.

They are outside walking now.  I listen to their banter.  The laughter is musical.  Mother stops to rest.  In the grass my son notices a dandelion, he picks it and tenderly puts it behind her ear.  He sees another one and rushes inside to present it to me.

I go through the motions of meeting their needs.  When they are content I try to rest.  Rest my mind, body, and spirit, thinking back to moments in the sun.  Their laughter.  It is water to quench the fire of worry.  Love is the most wonderful blessing.

Throughout the day I ask mother to put her feet up.  I go through the motions of walking with her at 2 or 4 am, but in the middle of the day she should keep them up.  The edema keeps her awake, so I am awake.  I pray for the weight and water to melt away letting her body heal.  I am thankful for the precious time I am able to spend with my mother.

The next day I ask my son to take a break from drawing to complete his school work.  When this is done I go through the motions of planning for the next day while he heads over to his friends to play.  He will be excited to start a new book tomorrow.  He likes the stories about the explorers we have been reading.  Then I remember how he shared the stories with grandma at lunch.  It a blessing he is able to share these moments with her.

Every week I go through the motion of filling mother's pill case, and making sure the right ones are taken throughout the day.  When the mail comes with all the assorted bills and medical information, updates in plans, changes in coverage, and new treatments available.  I am thankful to be here to take care of these things for my mother.

Providing for my son and mother is just another day of going through the motions.  They are oblivious to the workings of the machine, and only know when it is not functioning as it should. Some days they ask about it, but they take no ownership.  Going by faith that everything will be alright in the end.

I am grateful, giving thanks to God for the blessings of being able to go through the motions.

She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. Proverbs 31:22-24