Today I did the chore I hate the most. I think everyone has one of those, right? A household chore that has to get done, but we just HATE doing it. I asked my wife what hers was, and she said it was doing the laundry. That seems to be a common answer. Mine used to be dishes until we got a dishwasher. Doing them by hand ensures that you will come in contact with floating food particles in room temperature water for at least 30 minutes straight. Sends shivers up my spine.

But mine is different now. No more hand-washing dishes (thank you Jesus). Now my least favorite chore also has to do with laundry—I HATE putting folded clothes away. I don’t mind filling the machines, switching it over, or even folding. I find folding to be somewhat therapeutic. But I have three kids, so between the five of us, we have a lot of laundry to do every day. That’s 5 sets of clothes to be put away in 5 sets of dressers and 5 spaces in the closet. Inevitably, I end up dropping piles of clothes of the floor (forcing me to re-fold them), drawers get stuck, hangers fall out of my hand or clothes refuse to stay hung on them straight. It’s a mess.

I suppose more to the point, I’m a mess. As I carried each pile of laundry to their respective places, I caught myself getting frustrated before the process even began. That annoyance creeps throughout my core, and I know I’m going to end up being a bit short with my sons as they ask for my attention shortly thereafter. All because of some silly t-shirts and socks.

I often wonder why Jesus loves us. Just re-read those last three paragraphs and you’ll ask the same thing. As I’m writing these words, I can’t help but think about how spoiled I am that the biggest problem I’m currently facing is having to hang up pajama sets for my beautiful, healthy, joyful, intelligent, full-of-life children. And yet I complain about stuff like that all the time. I’m 100% someone who would have complained to God about getting manna from heaven, or saving me from slavery in Egypt, or not getting my way fast enough for my liking. I’m an Old Testament Israelite, plain and simple.

And yet God never bailed on them. Ever. He constantly put up with their complaining, their pettiness, and their selfishness, all while they lacked the perspective that He had been providing for them the whole time.

If He didn’t give up on or abandon them, He’s certainly not going to give up on me. No matter how spoiled I get. And that’s a good thing, because who else is going to sit there and listen while I continue to complain about my household chores? I know I wouldn’t.

I guess I’m glad God isn’t me. And today, I’m thankful for His patience. Because I certainly don’t deserve it.

-Matt