Mommy Lesson 27 - Enjoy The Here and Now

Something that I have continually been reminded of over and over and over again is that time is precious and enjoy your kids in the moment because in a blink of an eye, that moment is gone forever. So often I hear moms say that they can’t wait until their little one is doing one thing or the other. Forgetting that this exact moment with them is great too. I have even let those words escape my mouth a time or two. And honestly, those words shouldn’t be even whispered.
Every fleeting moment with our kids should be cherished and enjoyed as if it were the last. We are only promised the right now there is no promise of tomorrow. Just as we should not worry about the trials of tomorrow, we should also not long for tomorrow in such a way that we forget to enjoy today. Sure, it's easier when they sleep through the night, or start walking, or can feed themselves. But even those hard moments should be enjoyed. We are privileged as moms to even have these moments with our kids and that shouldn't be taken for granted. And enjoying every precious second that we have with them is so important.

Because one moment they are small cute little chubby munchkins…























…and then you blink.

Mommy Lesson 18 - Time Flies When Your Busy

There are those days where you find yourself going, and going, and going, and going, completing one task after the next with all the things that have to get done, only to realize at the end of the day that even though you did so much, you didn’t actually get anything on your original list done. That was today. I had a long list of tasks that I needed to check off and at each turn of the day I was accomplishing tasks, just not the ones that I had planned to. Days like that happen. Sometimes it’s because the kids are having an off day and other times it is just all of the other responsibilities that seem to get in the way. It is so frustrating at the end of a crazy day when you feel like you didn’t get it all done. It makes me discouraged at times because I know that I did a lot and yet I feel like I have nothing to show for it at the end of the day. I know that isn’t true but there are those days.

However I know that tomorrow is a new day filled with new promise and those tasks that needed to get done today can get done tomorrow. It’s taken me a while to come to terms with this simple fact. The list will still be there tomorrow to tackle. It’s okay if it doesn’t get finished today. Mommy lesson for the day, it is okay to leave it until tomorrow as it couldn’t be done today after all. There really are only so many hours in the day and when the list is long, time sure does fly.

Ecclesiastes 8:5-7 (HCSB) The one who keeps a command will not experience anything harmful, and a wise heart knows the right time and procedure. For every activity there is a right time and procedure, even though man's troubles are heavy on him. Yet no one knows what will happen, because who can tell him what will happen?

Mommy Lesson 16 - Mommies Need Rest

Did you know that it is okay to rest? Moms tend to go a million miles a second trying to get everything done that needs to get done and by the end of the day we crash into bet only to often be woken up before it is dawn and then hopefully get a little bit more sleep before it is time to get up and start the constant go all over again. It’s the cycle of mommy life. After the initial shock you get used to it and somehow learn to function on less uninterrupted sleep than you ever did before. Probably because you increased your caffeine intake exponentially. (At least that’s what I did.)

For me, when I sit for more than 10 minutes to just relax I start to feel guilty that I am not completing another task on my to-do list that is longer than Santa’s Naughty/Nice list. But rest is important, no, it is essential. It is okay to take a break from the craziness and breathe for a moment. Drink a cup of tea, eat a piece of chocolate, or whatever you do that makes you smile.

Remember even God rested on the 7th day. Don’t feel guilty that you are not constantly being productive and busy every moment of every day. Take a moment to snuggle with your littles and curl up on the couch or your favorite chair with a book. A moment to just be in the moment. I’m telling you, you will be more productive when you are well rested than if you are running ragged.

Genesis 2:2 (HCSB) By the seventh day, God completed His work that He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work that He had done.

Matthew 11:28 (HCSB) "Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Mommyhood - In His Time

Time - I think is relative. A year on earth is different from a year on Mercury, which is different from a year on Venus… When we tell our little ones we will take care of something in just a minute, how often is that minute really five minutes or sometimes even an hour as the day seems to run away from us and we honestly forget that we had said we would do something?

I often find myself remembering that drink of water, or that snack and sometimes-even lunch well after that minute has passed. I am sure kids have a difficult time getting a good sense of time because to us, we say "In a minute," and really mean, "At the first possible moment I can." Right after I transfer the laundry, feed the baby, take care of one of the other kid's owie, or whatever. Then unexpectedly we find we have to take care of something else entirely and soon forget that first request. I am constantly apologizing for being forgetful about one thing or another, but I started thinking about this concept of time and requests or needs being taken care of.

As a mom, I am constantly taking care of needs, usually in the right time sometimes, not. Nevertheless, when my son asks for lunch, I will make lunch when it is time for lunch. (On most days on time-I try; heck life is crazy with three kids and a baby.) However, he knows it is coming and that I will fill that need. But sometimes that "In a minute," means, "After I take care of the laundry." When we pray and ask God for something now, or soon, I know that His "now" and "soon" mean something entirely different from mine. The Bible says in 2 Peter that with the Lord, a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a day. How crazy is that? I find myself praying that God will meet this need or the other and I know that God will meet that need. For example, I prayed for a pink slip to a car when our little car was very much not working anymore. And when we needed the pink slip to a functioning car the most, God gave us a pink slip! Then, when it was time to retire that car I prayed again. And again, God met that need right at the perfect time. And then, again we were growing as a family and we needed a mini van to fit four kids and again, God was faithful to provide the van and money for the minor repairs it needed. And (of course) again, I find myself praying for a need, I really want the answer now but I know it will be soon. Tomorrow? Maybe. Next week? Perhaps. When I need it? Yes.

As God says "Soon." I cannot help but think of when I say "In a minute." Also, I smile when I know that He is so much more faithful than I am at meeting our needs at the perfect time.

2 Peter 3:8 & 9
"But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

Ecclesiastes 3:1
"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:"

Ecclesiastes 3:11
"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end."