Bunk Bed

Our boys were excitedly watching us at the beginning...sorting and assembling their brand new bunk bed. Its beautiful, smooth espresso colored wood boards scattered around the bedroom, and the yummy wood smell filled the air and added to their excitement. Eager to help, they sat patiently and watched us from the doorway, helping find the right boards when asked. But, as the assembling wore on, they lost patience and we put on a movie for them while we worked.

Two and a half hours later I'm thinking Ugh, why did we even buy this thing? It was nearing 11:30pm. Both beds completely put together I asked my husband if we could just leave it as two beds for the time being, but knowing how long the boys had been anticipating the bunk bed, I also knew it wasn't an option.

Twenty long minutes later it was finished. The boys were elated and exhausted. We set some ground rules (one on top at a time, their little sister was not aloud on top without mom or dad in the room, etc.) and tucked them in after saying a goodnight prayer of gratitude for their beloved bunk bed.

A little discouraged it had taken so long, I had been fighting feelings of contempt for the bed for the whole three hours. I knew I was tired, so that was adding to my frustration, but I noticed something. As soon as it was finished, and the boys were tucked in, I sat there and looked at them in their new beds, and a feeling washed over me. I do love this bunk bed. What a blessing to have the extra space, and how nice it makes the room look, and how happy the boys are.

Upon reflecting a bit, I was reminded how so many things in life come at a price. Whenever I have worked hard at something, the reward has been worth the effort. Whether it be physical, emotional, or spiritual, whenever I have really applied myself and worked hard, the reward has always outweighed the sacrifice.

I think my athletic experiences in my childhood and teenage years taught me discipline and work ethic. When I was 12 or 13, I had a coach tell me something that has always stuck with me. He had noticed during a particularly long race that I seemed afraid to push hard, that I was afraid of getting tired. He said, Don't be afraid of getting tired! I turned that into, don't be afraid of hard work, or hard things. I learned on a physical level how to do hard things and push myself, and I had tremendous success when I figured out how to achieve certain goals through that hard work. 

Through my post-high school years, I had experiences that taught me emotional and spiritual hard work. I had to face scary realizations and bad habits and tendencies that I'd had. Going through that helped me to make healthier choices, changed how I was and helped me realize how I wanted to be. I say how and not who because we are who we are. Only when we change how we are do we change who we are.

I know it seems silly that assembling a bunk bed from a box brought up all of these thoughts and reminders. But I am grateful for these reminders because life would be so much easier for me if I didn't have to do hard things and just went through the motions. But I know my life wouldn't be as rich and fulfilling if I hadn't, and don't continue to do the hard things. I do them because I am strong, and because I can. And because it is so worth it.