It’s a mindless job. One that I could do in my sleep.

So I roll out of bed while the house is still quiet, careful to avoid the creaky parts of the floor because little ones wake early in this home.

Sometimes I pause to do this for 30 minutes and sometimes just for two or three before rushing to keep up with the rest of the day.

The baskets are always full—often overflowing—because this life is overflowing.

And I sleepily pray, “Lord, help me fill them to the brim with Your love while I’m still blessed to have them at home.”

Sometimes it feels overwhelming.

But I can only do this job one piece at a time, and I can handle one piece. “Lord, help me intentionally live this life one piece at a time. Help me remember to meet You in all of these mundane moments passing by.”

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I see the tiny Miles Morales spiderman suit with a hole in the arm that I still need to sew—”Lord, please, please protect them as they grow. Guard them as they do their flips and kicks and ninja tricks and take so many risks that make my heart race. And help me find the balance between hovering and letting them fly free to become the individuals you designed them to be.”

The little onesies and snuggly sleepers—”Lord, help me savor these busy but fleeting days of babyhood.”

My tween’s favorite gray hoodie and ripped jeans—”Lord, help him navigate the coming years well. Be his compass and help him fix his eyes and heart securely on You.”

My 7-year-old’s favorite soft red jacket—”Protect him on all his exciting adventures finding rocks and bugs. Help his heart long for an adventure chasing after you more than anything else.”

My husband’s checkered flannel shirt—”Wrap him in Your love and help him walk through each day confident in his worth and identity in You.”

All the socks without matches, still searching for their soul mates—”Lord, please guide and protect our children’s future spouses. Bless them with beautiful, joy-filled marriages that make Your heart smile.”

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Pillowcases and sheets—”Please blanket us all with the reality of Your presence. Help us rest in Your love and peace. Whatever this day brings, let the deepest parts of our souls be still and know that You are God. As we are filled with You, help us extend our hands toward others to lead them to the peace found in Your heart too.”

There may still be a pile, but these are folded and will be put away.

There may still be a lot on my heart, but these things are safely in God’s care where they belong, so I can let them go.

There still may be a mountain of a day in front of me, but my baskets, my mind, and my heart are a little lighter.

And now my arms are free to be filled with these treasures I’ve spent the morning
praying for.

“Thank You, Jesus, for always carrying this load with me.”

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).