A Tale of Two Families

Here's a week in the life of two families I know; the First Family:

Their week started with Husband getting up and getting the kids ready for church.  Wife of course wasn't going.  She hardly ever goes.  She just sits and escapes into the computer or a book.  Husband, in his frantic efforts to get everyone fed and dressed and out the door, forgot to give Third his medicine.  No one noticed this until later that evening...when Third wouldn't stop crying over everything.
Monday began with no one wanting to get out of bed.  Wife had to get up because she had to go to school and then meet Husband to take First all the way to Little Rock for medical tests.  Husband had three things to coordinate before leaving and so was stressed; wife was her usual do-as-little-as-possible self; everyone was a little tense about the appointment for First.  First, it turns out, would need to come back on Halloween for a procedure.  She would miss school parties and most of Trick-or-Treating.  Husband bought her ice cream to cheer her up but the ice cream was not mixed well and it tasted awful.  That evening was full of running errands and fulfilling obligations.  Bed finally came, but not before Wife determined that the dishes and laundry could wait yet another day.
Tuesday was hard from the first minute.  Husband had to leave town on business and wouldn't be returning until late Thursday night.  Wife puttered around while Husband got all of his things together.  Finally, heading out the door, he picked up his suitcase only to realize, too late, that he'd forgotten to zip it.  Wife watched as he repacked everything and then waved to him from across the room as he left for his trip.
Wife sat down and looked at the week set before her.  Today she was so sad for her friends who had lost a dear friend of theirs.  She was at a loss for something to do for them.  Also, she had obligations to fulfill all day long and a test in her class the following morning!  Instead of picking all the kids up in one swoop, she had to pick Second and Third up and then an hour later go get First.  Regular schedules were confused because there were Parent/Teacher Conferences (that she had to attend alone because Husband's out of town).
Wednesday meant class again for Wife, after taking a test she wasn't completely prepared for, and then a doctor's appointment, and then cleaning house like crazy because the in-laws are coming on Friday.  Church Wednesday night was always hard because Third is always cranky and sleepy the minute church is over, making bedtime such a pain.
Thursday would be a day of chaos.  Last minute house chores, finishing up homework, and preparing for in-laws.  Also, although Husband returns to town Thursday, no one would see him until midnight or so because this weekend is Bison Days at school...busy busy busy!
Friday is Second's birthday.  Wife has to have his card-with-money ready meaning a trip to the bank for change and getting a card and also making sure the house is clean and groceries are stocked and everyone's clean and happy because the grandparents are coming!

It makes me tired to witness this family in action.  Let's talk about the Second Family:

Their week started off with Husband whispering to Wife as she was waking, "I know you had a rough night because of your back injury.  Just lie still and I'll take the kids to church."  Wife got up slowly and sat in her chair.  She watched her sweet family helping each other tie shoes and comb hair.  She wished she could join them this morning but the pain of sitting in a pew for an hour wouldn't allow it.  To distract herself from her sadness, she did some work on her computer and studied her book.  That evening, Third was in sore spirits because he hadn't had his medicine that morning.  Without hesitation, Wife gave him a dose and within 20 minutes all was well.
Monday was a flurry of activity...school...work...  Wife is blessed to be able to take a class and is loving it.  Often this class is the highlight of her week.  After class, she and Husband pick up First and go to Little Rock for a doctor appointment.  It's about a 45 minute drive and, because it's so rare for just the three of them to be together (without Second and Third), they just visited and enjoyed the time.  On the way home, they got some ice cream which First ended up not liking.  Husband said, "Don't eat that, Honey!"  He took it from her and she said, "But I don't want it to go to waste."  She looked and saw it was already gone.  Husband, with a little ice cream on his mouth, said, "Um...no worries."  That night was filled with fellowship and service during a church function and then early bedtime for all.
Tuesday morning, Husband had to go out of town.  Because Wife had missed her chiropractic appointment Monday, she was moving very slowly.  She couldn't even rise to kiss him goodbye but he winked and she waved and they knew all was well.  Because her friends were experience a loss and she wanted to help in some way, Wife was so happy to get to keep the baby of her dear friend and professor.  What a sweet baby!  Wife had forgotten how sweet and chubby and cuddly they can be.  She didn't wash a dish or dust a surface all day.  She just loved on that sweet baby.
Wednesday would mean church and Bible class.  Usually Third needs extra encouragement to stay the course until bedtime, but Wife was prepared and had a little snack for him when the time came to go to class.  The rest of the week would go just as smoothly because, despite the chaos, Wife knew that all that was dear to her was as it should be.  Her in-laws would be arriving on the weekend... just in time to spoil the grandkids so Wife could help Husband with his busy schedule at work.  How blessed Wife felt.

Of course, you realize this is the same family as the first one.  It's all about attitude.  You can have a great week or an awful week and it has nothing do with your schedule, the status of your house, the people around you, your physical health, or what you plan or don't plan.  It's.  All.  About.  Attitude.  I hope you choose to have a great week!