I don’t feel good. I have a throbbing headache which is like the big bully who won’t leave, even when you throw Advil, Tylenol, and sinus medicine at him, one right after the other. My muscles ache and my neck is sore. I didn’t sleep well and every noise sounds ten times louder, which makes my son’s trumpet sound like it’s closed over my ear.

And my kids are driving me nuts. Do they really have to fight about who got what little lego guy for Christmas? He’s only 1/2 inch tall. Could he possibly be that important?

I’m trudging around the house in a silent rant because no one has done anything the entire time I’ve been sick. The dishes are stacked to the ceiling next to a completely empty dishwasher (they’ll say they thought it was full) and the laundry is spilling out of the laundry shoot, backed up from the first floor (they’ll say they didn’t know anything needed washing).

I know, I need to get some things done for my family. If I don’t, there will be no clothes to wear tomorrow and no clean dishes for breakfast. My arms feel like they have bowling balls attached as I lift the pieces of clothing from the dryer. My head is full of grumbles and complaints. The only thing that feels good right now is to let little irritable grunts escape as I bend down for each new pair of jeans.

I’m sighing now. Realizing that this grumbling attitude has mad me feel worse, not better. Servants don’t serve only on the days they feel like it. Following Jesus means emptying myself of every last grumble, and letting the power of the Spirit fill me.

Here’s to all the moms who will be guzzling Nyquil tonight, and will still have ten loads of laundry waiting in the morning. But remember–we’ll still have the Holy Spirit in the morning, too! The power that raised Jesus from the dead is surely enough to get a sick (or tired or pregnant or stressed or _____) mom out of bed without grumbles!