The tops of the trees sway with the afternoon wind. It’s a quiet movement, one that requires you to look in order to notice the sway. It’s good to be noticing things like this.
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The door to the game cupboard has been left open, evidence of children rummaging and an activity chosen just before they dashed away. This is their childhood.
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As I dressed for the day, I grabbed my black shorts. It didn’t take long to notice the small sample of sand in the pocket, evidence of a trip to the beach the other evening. Do we visit the beach often? I’ll let the amount of sand hiding in my van answer that for you :) Playing at the beach resets all of us, and our visits are a wonderful companion to my motherhood.
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It took way too long for me to fall asleep the other night. The fan near the window drew in the evening cool, but it wasn’t lulling me to sleep as it usually does. It seemed all my children were asleep in their adjacent bedrooms, sleeping peacefully with nary a worry. As it should be.
A glance at the clock proved what I suspected: it was well after 1 am.
In time, I finally dozed, though I found myself at the bedside of my youngest son to comfort him. He, too, was having trouble staying asleep. I snuggled up with him, hoping for rest myself, but my mind started thinking about “all the things.”
Maybe you can relate to my thoughts:
- The homemaking tasks slated for the morning
- Which meal should I make for breakfast?
- (Did I drink too much coffee earlier in the day?)
- Which days will I work with Josiah with his medical equipment and braces?
- There’s a book to pick up from the library
- I can’t wait for that one book to be ready at the library!
- Remember to follow up with so-and-so
- It would be nice to write a letter to a friend this week
All of these thoughts are good to have, but they weren’t the right thoughts for the moment. What I was supposed to be doing was taking care of my child. (Related: I was supposed to be sleeping.)
Our home was dark inside, the moon was high outside, and being with him in this quiet way was bringing him peace. And what does God call me to do? Make peace.
Thinking about the list above wasn’t giving me any peace. The opposite was happening, and the effects were coming in heavy. It can seem normal to worry about the things ahead of us, but we know the truth about that.
Mother Teresa has offered an encouraging summary of Matthew 6:25–34:
Just like earlier in the day, the tops of the trees were swaying with the evening wind last night. I’m sure of this because in order for the evening cool to come in the window, something needed to be leading the way. It may be subtle, but it’s there. It’s worth noticing.
And just like the wind, my thoughts require me to notice them. I knew it would be more fruitful to be in the present moment than to worry away tomorrow.
What is asked of me when worry wants to settle in like an unwelcome blanket? What is asked of all of us in moments like this?
The answer: to be present in the current moment.
What can I do right now to usher in a peaceful breeze?
What can I do to be present in the current moment?
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I love this thought: Remember, their childhood is your motherhood.
It’s so grounding.
Side note: Want to enjoy motherhood? Stop the worry, and “let us begin.” Besides, it’s a myth that worrying produces anything fruitful.
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Let us begin, together.
PS. a blog post from last year: Summer Days in July
Maggie. Your sleep deprived nite time is so familiar to many women and especially Moms. I have learned that many thoughts at those moments can bring about great accomplishments. When the Lord nudges me to stop my worry about the lack of sleep, I get out of bed, put on a robe or blanket wrap, then grab a pen , notebook or journal, a warm cup of comfy drink, and sit upright in a comfy chair. Now, for afew moments sitting at tge feet of Jesus I ask God to bring back the thoughts onto paper so my mind can be free for rest and it becomes a Holy Spirit comfort to face tomorrow as I rise. My body has attained the rest, my mind thinks peace, but more importantly I can go back to bed praising Him for continuing this journey with me for another day to come He is in the nite, the mornings, the noontime & with every breath. .
This is such beautiful truth, Sonya. I do love when the Lord brings things to mind, especially in the dead of night. I know it’s something He really wants me to be attuned with :)
Maggie,
I love the idea that you laying and comforting your little one is a way to bring peace just as we are called by God to do! What a beautiful way to look at that. I will keep that close to my heart the next time one of my little ones needs me in the middle of the night (very possibly in the next few hours! :)) Thank you for sharing your thoughts I always enjoy reading and being encouraged by your blog!
xo Kristin
Hey Kristin!
Oh thank you for taking the time to share your words with me :) sometimes when we lean in, it’s so much easier. There may be difficulty momentarily, but there is a great reward at the end. Kind of reminds me of labor ;) xx