The other night I was up again with my sweet baby boy. My eyes could barely stay open from exhaustion and my arms ached from holding him upright as his tiny little body shook from another coughing fit. My heart just breaks for him and I want him to get better. In that moment I had tears running down my cheeks and I silently cried out “Why God? Why can’t my little one just get better?”

And then my mind wandered and I thought about how in just a few hours I needed to be up making breakfast for my daughter, about the sink full of dishes, about the multiple loads of laundry waiting to be washed and about the bathroom that desperately needed cleaned. For a second it seemed like too much and then I remembered….”But I get to…”

Sometimes it’s easy to get bogged down by the never-ending tasks of parenting and caring for a home. It can get overwhelming, and as a more naturally glass-half-empty person, I know it’s easy to spiral and get frustrated. But what if we choose to change our language and see these things with joy…as an opportunity to love and serve our families?

Instead of saying: I have to stay up at night with a sick baby…

I can say: I GET to be the one that my little one can find comfort and safety in at night.

OR I have to cook another meal…I GET to make nutritious meals for my family with food that God provides for us.

OR I have to do laundry…I GET to do laundry for our family because we have warm and comfy clothing for them to wear.

OR I have to discipline my child…I GET to guide, disciple and point the child God has gifted me with, towards Him.

I recently heard one of my favorite authors, Abbie Halberstadt (M is for Mama), share about this in her podcast. It was such a great reminder to me, that our mindset can completely change our attitude about things. When I think about how I get to do certain things, it reminds me of how much God has blessed me. And even though it might not change the situation it reminds me what a privilege it is to have a family, to be able to provide good meals and clean clothes for them, and to be the one to nurture and care for them.

So tonight, I’ll lean into those late night snuggles and feedings. I’ll pray over my little one and I’ll lean into God and allow him to fill in the gaps where my energy lacks. I am so thankful that I get to be the one.