Thank you Lord

You know, it doesn't really do any good to get angry or upset about things one can't control. I was looking forward to one of my few moments of solitude and peace (in the shower) this morning, when the whole day blasted me with the realization that I am not in control. Thank you God for relieving me of that responsibility! Say it with me: I am not in control here!!! Glory and praise to Him. And that's all I can do.

Right about 2 minutes into the shower, Xavier announces that he has to use the toilet. Our other bathroom toilet is out of commission as of late since Leo flushed swimming goggles down the toilet; Steve hasn't gotten around to fixing that just yet. So my peace is broken as he spends about 5 minutes sitting on the toilet. As he finishes up, Leo walks in announcing that he has to go too. Not feeling entirely patient as I should have been, I ask if he can wait. He says yes. Dominic comes crawling in about this time and begins pulling the shower curtain open. I try to be calm as I say: "Okay, everyone out of the bathroom, Xavier get the baby out." Then, Xavier shouts, "Ewww, Leo peed his pants!" So I swallow my scream and tell Leo to take his pants off and get out of the bathroom; I'd take care of him later. Finally the boys finish up and I resume my conditioner application pretending nothing bad has happened and ignoring the toxic "aroma" wafting my way.

I get out of the shower and ask Xav where Leo is... "he's going poop on your toilet in your room". "WHAT?!" I shout. Not that toilet... but sure enough, I charge in there towel wrapped around me and he's done his business on the broken toilet that can't flush and smeared himself while getting off too. I clean him up, open the bathroom window, and shut the door... dreading telling Steve about this when he gets home today. So I think it's all finished and I'm about to put my clothes on but Dominic is suddenly silent. Knowing what's happening but in denial all the same, I race back to the other bathroom where he's playing in brother's pee on the floor. So I clean him up... still haphazardly trying to stay decent with a towel around me. I put him in the living room and SHUT the bathroom door this time and go back to my room to dress.

Well, I thought that was the end of it, but when I finally went back to clean up Leo's pee on the floor, I picked up his undies and a giant "patty" falls out. Sweet merciful Father... thank you for the chance to practice love and humility. How else can I react? I live in a home full of wild, rambunctious, body-function obsessed boys and how could I possibly be annoyed and angry and frustrated. This is my vocation. May I honor it with patience and love.

I just ask to be fully dressed for future infractions.