I don’t have a bucket list and I never make New Year’s resolutions. While my intrepid husband conquers mountains, launches himself from the safe confines of an airplane, or explores the waters in which bull sharks thrive; I curl up contentedly on the sofa with the dog at my feet and a book in my hand–Jane Austen…Mary Higgins Clark…Jodi Picoult. Do you know how much adventure exists between the pages of Jane Eyre?
 I’m a middle-class mom shuttling middle-school kids in an SUV with French fries wedged between the console and the passenger seat. One child sits in the far reaches of the vehicle and the other perches next me—constantly switching the channel on the radio. The boy yells in response to something the girl said, “Knock it off, drama queen! My day was worse than yours!” Angrily, my daughter cranks the volume and the thrum, thrum, thrum of Lady Gaga’s voice fills the space. I sigh, fondly recalling the days when my children were non-verbal and easily soothed with a blankie or thumb.
There are dishes in the sink and our house is well lived-in. Scuffs along the baseboards bear the marks of superhero figures engaged in battle and the baskets on top of the refrigerator—meant to be a statement piece—hold a collection of stuffed animals the retriever borrows from my sweet girl’s room. With a scouring pad foaming in my hand, I take out my frustration on the glob of green toothpaste smeared on the counter and question whether I will ever be able to keep up with the demands of being a wife and mother.
Then one evening David the Intrepid asks, “How was your day?”
“Mediocre,” I respond. “I worked all day, helped the kids with homework, threw dinner together, tossed in a load of whites…nothing special. It was just—ordinary.”
“Sorry to hear that,” he says.
After a good night’s sleep and time spent in prayer, I looked my husband in the eye to tell him the truth.
“I wouldn’t change it.”
“Change what?”
“I wouldn’t change anything. I always wanted to be a wife and mother and if that means there are times of monotony, I don’t mind. Not everything is sunshine and romance, but I want to be the one packing ham and cheese sandwiches and searching the Internet for answers to 7^th grade science questions. (By the way, does anyone remember what the endoplasmic reticulum does?) If that were missing? I would have missed out on the fullness of living a life for the people I love most.”
I don’t spearhead a huge ministry, inspire thousands with words of wisdom, or impress others with my flashy career. I just do my best to love people…to share an encouraging smile…offer a prayer for a hurting friend—and fully live as beautifully ordinary.
Scripture for Reflection—Living Life Fully
 I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of. (John 10:10 MSG)
We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. (Romans 6:4 NIV)