Dawn came too early today—like an interruption to a night that went too fast.  As the first rays of light poured through the windowpane, I asked God to fill me with his grace for the day ahead.  Showing grace is never easy when we’re weary and on the brink of burnout. I went to bed late thinking about writing projects, our child’s science fair project, and what I was going to send to school for snack day. My mind raced for hours.  When dawn came too soon, I had no desire to race into anything. I brushed my teeth thoughtlessly, and the impending nature of my to-do list weighed me…

The yard is muddied with footprints and tire tracks, and a warm front blows in from the south.  I’m thankful for the early thaw. Winter was long, and I grew weary from completing the same tasks day after day.  I want to live with joy in Jesus, but this kind of joy can be challenging when the daily grind is wearing. Sometimes my life feels like an endless cycle of the same tasks. The tasks roll on, day after day, and I wonder if it will ever end. There are days when I’m disappointed with the ordinariness of it all. But I’m learning to find joy in Jesus in the…