And then what? is a question I like to keep in mind, especially when it comes to striving for perfection.
I’ve found that asking myself that question usually helps me get to the root of what I’m trying to accomplish.
For instance, sometimes I imagine that day after day I will wake up, the house will be in order, the kids will be well-behaved, obedient, and sparkling clean from head to toe. Our whole family will be loving and patient with our words to each other and we will exhibit nothing but absolute kindness and love.
Ha! You may think. Impossible! (And please. Like I don’t know this?) But, still, I like to imagine it. Day after day me being a picture-perfect Supermom. An Uberwife. My life as the picture of perfection. Everything I do, I do perfectly, and with a happy heart, and without complaint. (And then I would “pin” my life all over Pinterest for others to see!) There they would see what I already know…that I am the quintessential wife of Proverbs 31, whose
” children rise up and bless her; Her husband also, and he praises her, saying: “Many daughters have done nobly, But you excel them all.” (Proverbs 31: 28,29)
Uh-huh. Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it? Isn’t that what I really think a Supermom is? One whose children and husband (and though the verse doesn’t say it, other moms) “praise” her? Wouldn’t it be nice to be THAT mom? Even if only for a day?
But when I let my imagination go there, that’s when I find it most critical to ask myself:
And then what?
Because that’s when I realize what my answer is, (though I’m a bit ashamed to admit it):
And then I wouldn’t need God.
You know, it’s a real downer when you realize that the very Being you claim to adore is also the one you’re trying to erase from your life.
But it all falls back into its proper place again when I realize that attaining the “perfect” life for myself would accomplish just that–the elimination of God.
Then, I simply ask myself again:
And then what?
And then I see the monumental tasks before me. And the pressure of it all. And the weakness of my abilities to carry out any of it.
And I fall to my knees.
And I thank God for His being Him,
and for His making me me.
The Mystic Mom 
Funny how I didn’t read this until today because I really needed this today. I told myself all day long while I was driving and driving and driving all around picking up my kids that there must be a reason I do all this driving and nothing else with my life. I realized after reading your post that I do that because that is what is needed of me right now. It won’t last forever, but for right now that is what God needs me to do for HIS kids. Pretty cool. Thanks for the reminder.