Disney princess movies stump me. Snow White and Cindy happily cleaning away with a song in their heart knowing full well the wicked women in their lives will make them do it again tomorrow. Really? My children and I are challenged—not to do the simple things—cooking, cleaning, etc.—but to have a good attitude in the process. For my kids, ESPN and So You Think You Can Dance are calling. Me? I have a whole list of things more fun than loading the dishwasher. No, I was not raised in a home where service was a joy and we couldn’t wait to do this stuff. So I struggle to have a proper spirit, until Paul reminds me: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”(Colossians 3:23-24 NIV) To picture Jesus standing there and asking me to do it for Him—that’s not the problem. The doing for Jesus isn’t hard. I’m happy to do it for Him. The challenge is to shift my mind into a new gear, because it’s the remembering that everything I do is done for Him that gets me. Turning the day’s schedule over to God when the day begins has been helpful. Any interruptions or game changers—sick kid, flat tires—come through His hands first. I deal with them more graciously when I’ve released control first thing in the morning. Thanksgiving is another help. Not the turkey and dressing kind. The thankfulness kind. God’s been encouraging me to exercise this muscle for years. Initially, I thought I was due. Due a smooth schedule and no problems, because, hey, I toe the line pretty well. I’m a Type A, high achiever. My attitude was “But I’ve been so good. Now I have to stop and deal with _______? Really?” It left me frustrated. Today, I’m learning to look at dirty dishes and be thankful we have food on the table. As I vacuum tumbleweeds of dog hair, I’m grateful for the silly dog following me through the house. (He likes to distribute the shedding evenly.) As I step over dirty clothes left on the floor—again—well, I’m still working on that one. Check in with the Boss before the day begins. Allow Him to guide you from class to class, task to task, or appointment to appointment, whatever your day holds. And whatever you do, do it with Him in mind and thank Him for the privilege. Questions: What does a typical day look like in your world? What things do you look forward to? What things are you dreading? If the dread list disappeared, what blessings would disappear too? What character muscles may God be developing through the dread list? Pick one thing on the dread list and find something to be thankful about.