On my weekly shopping trips to town, I like to stop by the library and select a stack of books to bring home for our children. Last week I grabbed, “Days with Frog and Toad” for the younger kids. Two nights ago I sat with the youngest 5 and read the first story in this book. Here is my paraphrase:
Toad woke up and complained about his messy house. Frog agrees, it is messy.
As Toad pulls the covers over his head, he says he will get it cleaned up tomorrow. Frog enters the house (they had been talking through the open window) and points out each mess. (So embarrassing!!)
Toad cries to him, “Tomorrow! I will do it all tomorrow!”
Oh Toad, I feel your pain. We all feel that way sometimes. We look around and see all the work that needs to be done and just pull the covers back over our head, mentally anyway, if not actually. But then this:
“Blah,” said Toad. “I feel down in the dumps.”
“Why?” asked Frog.
“I am thinking about tomorrow.” said Toad “I am thinking about all of the many things that I will have to do.”
Of course! Toad here is like most homemakers who leave extra work for tomorrow. He isn’t seeing any real value in tidying the house, and since Frog has already seen his faults and mess, why bother? He feels defeated and hopeless.
You too?
I understand. Yet we know that if we would get the job done we would feel so much better and have more joy and energy for our families and anything else the LORD puts on our plate.
We know it is never a good choice to purposely leave a mess until the next day. If it looks overwhelming, this is exactly the right time to jump in and get to it! We may not get it all done in one day if it is a large mess, but we’ll be making progress.
I would encourage you and me to not be like Toad, but the story does have a happy ending. After Toad thinks for a while he realizes that if he washes his dishes and hangs up his clothes today, when tomorrow comes he can enjoy the day. He won’t be stressed or feel down in the dumps again.
From our own lives we know that jobs or messes left for another day become that much more difficult and frustrating. It doesn’t get easier. So do be like Toad! Get into the habit of getting today’s chores done today. Tomorrow has worries of it’s own. (See Matthew 6:34).
Many blessings as you diligently follow good works!
Oh we love Frog and Toad!! Another great post with great perspective. I’m recovering from the birth of our fifth child and my husband is doing a fabulous job of keeping the home running. I’m itching to get back at it though and to keep Toad’s perspective in mind! 🙂
We just met Frog and Toad a few days ago! So far, so good!
Congratulations Emily, I hope you recover quickly 😀
Great post! I will have to look into reading this book with my daughter. Just this morning, I was thinking of how my pantry has become a little disorganized but not feeling motivated to clean it out. But you’re right, it won’t get any easier and it will just frustrate me more, so I am off to clean it! 🙂 I am remembering that by organizing it, that will bless my family with better prepared meals and will help me with meal planning. And I love the feeling of accomplishing a task like that!
Hi Katie,
A bit of motivation goes a long way! I bet you have it just about finished up, and now… everytime you open that door, you’ll smile!! 😀
Just what I needed for today. Thank you Jennifer!!
🙂