dirt, sweat, and perspective

Cutting the grass has always been the thorn in my side.  I absolutely cannot stand to do it!  I would trade scrubbing lots of toilets for cutting one tiny yard.  There's just something about it.  It's not so much the actual cutting the grass that I hate.  It's all the little things that seem to go along with it.  Like when I plan to cut it in the short window of daylight I have when I get home only to realize that there's no gas in it.  Or, when I get it out and can't start it.  Or, I get it started easily and then something happens to make it stop, and I don't know what to do to fix it.  Then there's the whole spectrum of emotional issues that surround it for me.  Feeling like it's not fair that as a single homeowner I have to carry the weight of the "husband" chores and "wife" chores around the house.  I start to become bitter toward women who have husbands to do this kind of work while they stay inside and do "inside" things.  I feel sorry for poor, pitiful, little me who doesn't have a husband to cut her grass.  Haha.  It sounds so ridiculous, but these are the kinds of frustrations cutting the grass brings up for me.  I begin to dread cutting the grass and put it off as long as I possibly can.

So, today what did I do?  I got out and did it.  I cut the grass.  Partly because I'm tired of having the worst looking yard on the street.  Partly because it was a beautiful day and it was a productive way to be out enjoying it and getting some exercise at the same time.  Partly because I didn't want to wait any longer for my boyfriend to do it or for my co-worker's son to come over to do it.  And, partly because my 95 year-old neighbor is probably peering through her blinds living in fear that my weeds will keep growing and spread to infect her perfect, green, carpet-like lawn.  Whatever the reason, I did it, and I found that as I did God changed my perspective.  I am thankful to have a home with a yard that needs mowing.  I am thankful that I have enough money to buy a lawnmover.  I am thankful that I have arms strong enough to push the mower and legs that are able to walk behind it.  I work with patients everyday who would give anything to walk on their own and get out in the yard and do work.  I am thankful that God has sent enough rain down on us to make the grass grow enough so that it needs to be cut. 

Now, I would still gladly let my boyfriend cut the grass for me.  I'll probably still have my friend's son come over a few times during the summer to make some extra money cutting my grass.  I still really don't like it.  It's hard work.  And that's ok.  Some things you just have to do even if you don't love it.  But, I feel like God is changing my perspective and teaching me to give thanks in all circumstances.