Mud Between My Toes

Cheerfulness in most cheerful people, is the rich and satisfying result of strenuous discipline.                                       ~Edwin P. Whipple

Do you ever get tired of doing the same thing over and over?  I write one project, polish it and send it in.  Then I start another.  I never get tired of it.  But cooking? I get tired of a meal before I begin cooking it.  It's over so fast and then it's time to plan another one.  Like laundry -- there's always another load to be done.  

It's part of what I need to do as a (mostly) stay-at-home wife.  RB needs fresh starched and ironed shirts and good meals.  I can gripe, or I can iron and cook cheerfully -- just because I love him. 

The same is true with the things I do for God.  Sometimes the things I do for Him aren't easy.  I'd rather just sit in my chair and write.  But obeying God is my main goal so I say with Paul, "Cheerfully pleasing God is the main thing, and that's what [I] aim to do" (2 Corinthians 5:9).  

And it is the main thing.  I find when I do what He asks my heart fills with joy.  I know when RB sees his starched and ironed shirts he'll be pleased, and in the same way, my cheerful obedience pleases God.  If RB hears me grumble about ironing, it takes pleasure from him.  Grumbling about what I do for God is a sin and takes pleasure from Him. 

Photo by Emily

 We need to teach our children the joy they receive when chores are accomplished cheerfully.  A cheerful child makes parenting easy.  But, more importantly, as they grow they will also cheerfully obey God.  

One way to teach cheerfulness is to hide smiley faces in places your child will find them while doing their chores.  If they have accomplished the chore cheerfully allow him/her to trade the smiley face for a small treat.  

Mud Pie Annie is a spunky little girl with an exceptional talent for cooking with flair. She can make anything from "marvelous eclairs" to "parfait extraordinaire," but not just any ingredient will do. Annie creates her concoctions with mud and dirt—well mixed with pride and care.  She makes them cheerfully, too.  Dear Annie knows the secret.  God doesn't see the mud between her toes -- He sees her cheerful heart.

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I love Mud Pie Annie and your children will, too.  Mix up some mud pies (no-bake cookies) or use one of the recipes in the front of the book.  You've probably made them before, but here's a quick recipe:
Bring 2 cups sugar, 2/3 cup milk, 1 stick butter, 1/2 cup cocoa to a boil.  Boil 2 minutes and add 1 tsp vanilla, 1/2 cup peanut butter and 3 cups quick oats.  Drop by spoonful onto waxed paper. 


Another idea is Chocolate Play Dough:

Mud Pie Annie: $3.99

No-Cook Chocolate Play Dough

1 cup of salt

2 cups of plain flour

2 tbsp oil

2 tbsp cream of tartar

1 1/2 cups boiling water
1/2 cup cocoa powder

This was a fun and easy project to put together.  I had a plastic bowl I found at Target 80% off after Valentine's Day.  I made extra large no-bake "mud pies" to fill the bowl.  Tied the book and cookie bowl up in cellophane and tied a big white spoon in the bow.  After all, every "Annie" needs a bowl and spoon to mix up some mud pies.