Lately Benjamin is reluctant to get ready for school. Bed is warm and the air is chill. Can't blame him. But to be at the curb by 6:55 we need to have pummeled through a series of tasks starting at 6:10. I have never plunked him on a scale but I think he gains about forty pounds every morning. Pulling his limp body from the swaddle of quilts is distinctly harder than getting him in the car for reiki with Kirsten. This morning was hard from the get go. His teacher has opinions about his level of kemptness and sent specific instructions involving brushes. I offered one. He hurled it across the floor. My response was equally puerile. He howled all the way from the front door to the bus. Perhaps you heard him. 

Then the twins emerged from their room. Their first words vary slightly between "I love you", "You are the best" and "Thank you!" Over Aurelle's arm was today's wardrobe, which she sweetly asked me to iron. It is a little ritual we do both to minimize wrinkles and to make the clothes warm against their skin. Hmmm. They are self sufficient about packing their lunches and popping bread in the toaster. Being their mom is ridiculously easy. I don't even deserve a mother's day card. I should be writing them instead. 

If I climb on a mental ladder I can look for the overall plan. Is having Benjamin my invitation to try harder, and having the twins a chance to coast? It reminds me of riding a bicycle, which involves a continuous alternation of pushing down on the pedal and floating back up the other side. Unless of course you are one of those hard core riders who attaches his shoes to the pedals enabling him or her to have upward thrust too. God wants me to get somewhere and if I rely exclusively on coasting the only destination is down. Not a stellar goal symbolically speaking. 

But He is merciful and knows that I need a reprieve now and again. Hence the twins. 

Now let me hasten to assure you that it is not a simple matter of Benjamin is ornery and the twins are a cinch. Life is more complicated than that. But this morning those were the hats they wore for my particular spiritual aerobics. And theirs. 

Marriage too is a cycle of hard and easy. Isn't it generous of our Maker to mix it up? Truthfully, who could bulk up if the honeyed days of new love became the standard? I sure couldn't. Besides some of the places I want to see are on higher ground.