Category Archives: time
Just a worm and a leaf
Isabel returns from the bathroom, her pants around her knees. “It just be a worm.” What she means to say is “false alarm.” I know I should correct her, but I just can’t. Instead I smile and relish her innocence, knowing it won’t last long.
Yesterday, while on our walk, the kids discovered the first signs of autumn: a red leaf! Actually, we found a handful. Cooler temperatures reigned this week, in spite of the calendar claiming it’s still August. Our found-treasure proves summer is quickly coming to an end. Fall is inevitable. Gone are the days of time well wasted … Isabel starts school in less than two weeks! Before we know it we’ll be picking apples, wearing sweatshirts and preparing for the holidays.
This all reminds me of Mark Lowry. I saw him in concert years ago. I remember well two things from that concert: (1) he said he would probably get married when he was thirty-three because “the Lord laid down his life when He was thirty-three” and (2) his favorite verse was “And it came to pass.” The audience and I waited for the rest of the verse, but that was it. Mark exclaimed: “Isn’t that great?!” He went on to explain that nothing is here to stay. Everything in this life is here for a limited time. It all will pass – the good, the bad … all of it! This is what I’m thinking about today.
And this is my encouragement to you: Savor the moments to be treasured, like the too-soon-forgotten phrases of childhood. They will pass in the blink of an eye. And don’t fret over the trials for they, too, shall pass. Yes, summer is coming to an end and winter is on its way, but winter will pass just as quickly. The best part: God is with us in the summers and the winters. He counts each leaf that falls and captures our tears in jars. May our laughter be stored in warehouses!
Stop the Ripples
I am hiding from my children. Our bedroom, affectionately called “the cave”, is my only place of solitude. Well, a semi-solitude. The ramblings of our children still echo from the living room. Dora is singing somewhere in the background. Piles of laundry surround me, sprinkled with a few cheerios and matchbox cars. But this is the best I can find.
Our children are boycotting naps. I haven’t had a moment’s rest in a week and a half. That is, not while they are awake. I haven’t written in that same amount of time. It’s killing me. I can’t even go to the bathroom without visitors to my throne or prying voices on the other side of the shower curtain.
So, what do I do? When I don’t have my “me-time” as our generation calls it; when I don’t have the quiet moments I need to recharge my batteries, I attack whoever is closest. I’ll grumble at Rick for leaving a wet towel on the floor. Even the mailman annoys me. If I am in the middle of disciplining Zachary and Isabel interrupts, who gets yelled at? Isabel. She likely is not the original source of frustration, but I spread my frustration to her. When I do not have my quiet moments, my reactions are disproportionate. Instead of smart-bombing problems, I use a more general ammunition, hitting innocent bystanders in the process. My grief and wrath ripple throughout the house. In turn, it ripples back. Isabel hits Zach because she knows she can’t hit me. Zach screams because he’s not as fast as she is, and poor Rick retreats until the storm blows over. I am left in the center facing the problems I alone created and amplified.
How much easier it would be to take a time-out in the beginning. Stop. Pray. Retreat to the cave before the warning bells ring and the turmoil is inevitable. As busy people it’s not always that simple. We run 24/7 with never enough time to accomplish all that needs to be done. We struggle to balance family life with career ambitions and spiritual callings. We are torn in every direction.
One of my favorite quotes is this: “There is never enough time to do all the nothing we want.” The problem is we don’t know what the nothing is versus the something. God knows what is most important for us. He knows how our priorities should align. If we don’t spend time with Him, how will we know what our somthings are? How will we know which demands are nothing and better neglected? We can’t. This is why we should seek him day and night. Even if it’s only a few solitary moments before rolling out of bed.
The good ripples, too. When I align my thoughts with God first thing, the rest of the day is better. My attitude is better, and everyone can tell the difference. Instead of loud, rushing voices, the house echos with laughter and sweet sentiments. Isabel hugs her brother instead of hitting him. Zach shares toys instead of stealing them. Rick is happy to come home instead of wishing he had a cave of his own. We don’t need to hide from each other! We find our rest in God. In the end, it’s not “me-time” that we need, it’s God-time.
Crockpots aren’t so bad.
When Rick and I got married we were given three crockpots. I returned two of them. The one I kept had a small two-cup capacity. Why would we need a huge crockpot? There were only two of us and I didn’t know how to use one anyway. This lack of forward thinking is precisely my problem.
“So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” – Matthew 6:34 (NASB)
I’ve always used this verse (and the others like it) to defend my lack of planning. My thinking … I’m not gonna worry about it because it will take care of itself! I love being spontaneous; I love being surprised. Today is enough for me. I’m going to live it to the fullest and deal with tomorrow when it comes. Crockpots symbolize the opposite of this. They require thinking ahead and planning. They assume nothing exciting will happen during the day and everyone will be home at the right time craving exactly what we prepared that morning.
Well, eight years later, where once there were two, now there are four. Where once I despised monotony, now I crave a little predictability. A couple weeks ago I bought a new, much bigger crockpot and decided to learn how to use it.
Planning ahead is not so bad. I’ve found with this new kitchen gadget I can nearly eliminate happy hour. You know happy hour — the time when kids go crazy right before Daddy gets home; the time when I should be cooking and cleaning and finishing last minute chores. Well, with the crockpot, pieces of that chaos are gone. The meal is already done and there’s no mess because I’ve had all day to clean up the kitchen. You know the best part? When I’m not running around like crazy, neither are the kids. It’s fantastic!
Sometimes we worry too much about tomorrow. Sometimes we don’t worry about it enough. The struggle is finding the balance between responsibility and faith. Yes, God will take care of tomorrow the same way He takes care of today. But refusing to plan ahead can make room for unnecessary stress and chaos. Life can have both spontaneity and plans. We need to trust God to take care of tomorrow, but understand He may use a crockpot to do that.
Tickled by Jesus
Tucking Isabel in bed always invites interesting conversations. Sometimes we talk about monsters or where the sun goes to sleep. Usually we talk about God. Last night she told me she was afraid of her bed.
This has been a common complaint of late. She is the only one who sleeps on the second floor; Zach, Rick and I have our rooms on the first floor. I think she’s just lonely. Once we finish the other bedroom, Zach will be moving up there, too. In the meantime, we have to settle her fears.
I explained to her God is everywhere and He will protect her. “Who made the world?”
“God!”
“Right! And He’s the biggest and strongest and He loves you so much. Do you know where He is?”
“In the sky?”
“Nope. He’s right here beside you. He lives in Mommy’s heart. He’s downstairs with Daddy and Zach, too. He’s all around us and He will protect you because He loves you.”
At this point she started giggling. “Jesus is tickling me!” That was the end of her fears for the night.
“I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me.” — Psalm 16:8 (NLT)
God’s closeness is a wonderful abatement for fear, but it is more than that. I smile at the intimacy of Isabel’s statement: “Jesus is tickling me!” To understand how close God is, to believe He’s tickling you … what a wonderful thing! My mom uses the word “tickles” for delightment. It could be a simple thing said or the way a craft project comes together. If it makes her happy, it tickles her. If anything should delight us, it should be God.
In order for us to be tickled by God, we need to recognize His presence, but we also need to be close to Him. Spend some time with Him today and see how He can tickle your heart.
Finding Rest
God promises us rest. He calls the weak and weary to come to Him. He tells us His burden is light and His yoke is easy; if we trust in Him, our burdens will be lifted and we will have rest. How great is that?
Unfortunately, I know the Scripture but my body doesn’t believe it. I’m exhausted! It has been two years since I have slept consistently. I’m tired of dealing with screaming kids and messes and laundry. I’m tired of giving to everyone and running everywhere and never getting a day off. Where is this rest? The blessing of children has forever changed my life (not to mention my body) and zapped whatever relaxation that may have previously existed. I know God gives us rest, but I sure don’t feel it.
How about you? Do you feel rested?
We know God never lies; His Word is fully true. So, how do we find His rest? We have a million and one things to do every day. People depend on us, but we can’t provide what they need if our own needs are not being met. And we need the rest God offers. How do we get it? We make room for it.
The problem starts with expectations. We believe people expect us to be the best at everything. We’ve got to have the best job, maintain the cleanest, most comfortable home, have the happiest spouse and the best-behaved children. We need to be involved in our church and our community and our kids’ schools. We’ve got to keep up with friends and family members, always being thoughtful and encouraging. And don’t forget the finances. It’s our job to be thrifty and wise with the money, getting the best deals on everything.
Guess what – none of this is what God expects from us. God expects us to love Him with all our hearts, souls, and minds. That’s it. Nothing more; nothing less. We don’t have to DO anything. We just have to be madly and deeply in love with Him.
The reason we don’t find rest in Him is because we are too busy living up to other expectations. We over-commit ourselves. We fill our lives with things that we don’t need – all the while sacrificing what we do need: rest in God.
We have to make time for it. Perhaps this means giving up a ministry that has you too stressed. Or spending more money on groceries so you can enjoy time reading God’s Word instead of cutting coupons. Maybe it means letting the laundry sit so you can curl up with a movie or a great book while the kids nap. I’m not suggesting we slack off on our responsibilities – only that we get our priorities straight. God must come first, so we need to make time for Him. Whatever will help you — a devotional, a babysitter, a change in thinking — whatever it is, find it. Go out of your way to make room for God’s rest. You won’t believe how good it feels.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” — Matthew 11:28-30
Time to Interrupt
“Do you know how Rachel Ray makes 30-minute meals? She doesn’t have children!”
Frustrated, I made this statement while ending the second half-hour of an attempt to make one of her dishes. I know Rachel books it on her show, but still … even when I’m kicking tail trying to use my time as efficiently as possible, there is no way I’m getting any of her meals done in less than thirty minutes. Why? Because I have children.
Time passes differently with children in the house. Before having kids, we had the luxury of time – a luxury we squandered not knowing what we had. We took for granted our ability to be spontaneous. We could decide to go anywhere at a moment’s notice and without a second thought.
Isabel put a little damper on that, but not much. Having a child caused us to pause just long enough for a second thought. More times than not, we simply continued with our spontaneous whatevers. As an infant, she didn’t take up much space and traveled light. Yeah, life with one was not too much different than life with none.
But just like our footloose, child-free days, the era of just one was finite, destined to pass in short order. I am still adjusting to the surprise of Zach; the sudden life of two.
Time is definitely different with two. If a recipe claims to take one hour and fifteen minutes (total time including prep and baking), the mother of two should start it no later than 3:30 if she wants to serve it before 7 PM. Everything takes longer. Getting ready in the morning, getting out the door, eating lunch … everything. Interruptions are never-ending. But then I think: What is the interruption here? Are my kids interrupting my chores? Or are my chores interrupting my real life as a mother? What is most important?
Someone said “When your children are young, the days are long, but the years are short.” It is so easy to lose track of time and priorities in the rush of everyday life. We all have thousands of things on our to-do lists and our wish-to-do lists. But what is really important? Is it better to make a meal in thirty minutes or to share the hour-and-a-half prep time with little helpers?
“There is an appointed time for everything.” — Ecclesiastes 3:1
Now is not my time to be a speedy culinary genius. Perhaps in five, ten or twenty years … Right now is the appointed time for me to enjoy my little helpers and revel in these wonder-packed interruptions to a life of chores.
