Monday. Maybe that is enough said. But I’ll go on record for having called Monday my favorite day, not when I was working an office job, of course, but possibly when my kids were in school and I had the house to myself by 8:30 a.m. Even now, with our sons long grown up, even after spending wonderful weekends with my husband, I don’t mind the solitude of an empty Monday house. On the first day of the week, it seems anything is possible. What I don’t get done today can wait till tomorrow or the next day. The week is young.
Back when life was normal, earlier in 2020, before the coronavirus shut down many of the places we frequent, I would get up early two Mondays a month and be at our church by 8:00 a.m. to do some volunteer office work. It was work done with one other woman, face-to-face on two sides of a small table, spending a couple of hours on our tasks and on talking to each other. I love those Mondays and look forward to their return. The other two Mondays mornings could be leisurely, just getting up to see the guys off to work and then going about my day.
Today isn’t like any of those Mondays. I’ll hear later this month about whether I’ll be needed at the church any time soon. And it is the first day of the fourth week of all of us staying at home. My husband and son “go to work” here in the house. I truly love having them here. I do.
I enjoy cooking for them, hearing their voices, knowing that they are sheltered from the virus. It’s just that there are some mornings, Mondays included, when it takes me a couple or three hours to get revved up for the day. This was one of those Mondays. I was up and dressed, knowing what I wanted and needed to do today, but was struggling to begin. And then I said it, “I just feel like I want to be alone.”
When I’m alone and have a sluggish morning, I’m the only one who has to deal with it, and I do. And I did today, too. But it was a little harder with someone nearby, someone who I appreciate and never want to push away.
I have a hunch that most of us who are at home now, either with work or without it, are having moments of frustration with their situation, with themselves, or with a family member, possibly with all three These are days that require patience every day of the week, maybe especially on Mondays. Patience with ourselves, patience with our others, and patience with these unusual circumstances.
Dave and I have been married for 36 years. He knows me well. He’s under a lot of stress, but is still patient with me. When I apologized for my “moment” this morning, he extended grace. We all need grace, an acceptance that we are flawed, for the other person to be understanding. It helps to try not to take each other’s “moments” too personally.
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13