My body is weary. My soul is tired. My attitude is less than stellar.
I am human and need a break. Is that allowed? I feel like I need some time to rest, refuel, and just be quiet. You see, there isn't a lot of "quiet" in our family. It is a by product of parenting a big family. It is the reality of managing activities relating to school, church, family time, homework, and everyday life.
I am a thinker. I tend to exhaust a lot of mental energy on matters. Our family has a lot in the pot right now. Beginning the college search. Making decisions regarding high school next year. Working through the challenges of a learning disability and the most beneficial way to help our child learn. Life lessons. Quality family time. Quality spouse time.
I am a multi-tasker which can be more challenging when I am tired. I must choose to experience God in everyday tasks such as getting the children ready for school, driving Katie to choir, discussing college details with Zack, helping Marco with homework, working with Gus on his reading skills, reading books to Ana Lucia, folding laundry, paying bills, attending meetings, organizing functions, and more.
While I do believe in quiet time spent with God, I also need to continue to be centered around Christ all throughout my day. When I am overwhelmed by the mounds of laundry I need to be grateful for the precious children and loving husband who create all that laundry! When I am frustrated at trying to come up with a creative way to teach a concept to my son with a language-based learning disability I need to be thankful that he is in the United States where there is access to academic support. When I am tired of driving down to UC and back each and every week I need to appreciate the time with my teenage daughter to listen to LOUD music, laugh, and just be with her. Christ offers many opportunities to grow in our relationship with him through everyday life.
So tonight I am going to spend the night in a hotel. It is going to be quiet. When I want to go to sleep it will be completely dark and there will be no baby monitor. I will spend some time reading. I must admit some reading time will be spent in the Bible and some spent in People magazine. How's that for honesty? I will spend some time writing. In the morning I will wake up when I determine I have had enough sleep - not when an alarm goes off or a child wakes me up. I will take the world's longest shower. I will eat breakfast in bed.
I will take some time to really think about the following scriptures and commit to believing them and truly living them.
Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
~ Philippians 4:6-8
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."
~ Isaiah 30:21
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.
~ Colossians 3:15a
3 comments:
Soooooooooo envious. Have a good time for me, too!
Excellent insight, particularly the part about enjoying Christ in the daily stuff and the relationships he has given us. It is so easy to get caught up in all that is going on and wonder what happened to our relationship with Jesus, when he is right there with us all the time, eager to teach us and grow us up precisely through all that stuff.
I say the following not only because I love my sister, but also because I know how crazy busy your life is: it was a delightful pleasure (and a privilege) to have a whole hour of your time in conversation this morning!
Enjoy Aimee! Hope your time in quiet with God is refreshing! And time for People magazine without a sick child on your lap in a waiting room....how exciting!!!
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