“Mom! I need your help with Math!!” came the plea from the dining room. “But I don’t know what this word is!” whined a voice from the kitchen table. “Would you please just let me finish this email, guys?” I crabbed from my desk.
It was my first year having both of my youngest kids home on the same day. As a part of the University model school they attend, they go to school for a few days every week. The other days are spent at home with me, working through assignments given by their teachers. In theory, the model is supposed to teach them independence, but some days it feels like anything but. After many hours of bickering and whining on all of our parts, we FINALLY got through our work that day. Everyone was crabby and retired to different corners of the house to lick wounds and zone out.
More than a little frustrated, I began to ask myself some hard questions. Why was I doing this? Why not just send them to a regular school and avoid all this frustration? The answer? I want to spend time with them while they’re little. I want to be a part of their education. I want to savor these moments and hours of learning and growing. Then why didn’t it feel like savoring?
That day began a journey of change for me. I dug into the feelings of annoyance and rushing about that had become a regular part of my life, and not just regarding schooling. My every day felt like a constant string of just getting to the next thing. Time was a whip-swinging taskmaster of straining forward to just get life done.
As I cried out to God for help, He showed me some things that made me uncomfortable. I viewed “getting school done” as just that, one more activity on my seemingly endless checklist for the day. What if I took the time to see schoolwork as THE thing I needed to focus on in the morning and early afternoon? What if I took a moment during math to study my daughter’s beautiful face as she worked her way through a difficult problem? To tell her, “I love seeing how hard you’re working on that!” instead of driving her forward to completion? What if I followed the winds of my son’s wild imagination as we learned about exotic animals in faraway lands, and I took the time to tell him how much I love the way he thinks?
The process of finding the rhythm where each child received the focused attention they needed to accomplish learning was still a difficult balance that year. BUT when I put away my phone and my laptop and made school and children my focus, the stress of getting it all done began to melt away. I was able to find joy in the process, and rediscover the reasons I’d decided to be involved with their learning in the first place.
Now, I’m finding ways to apply the principle of living with my whole heart in the moment to as many aspects of my life as possible. I hear so many people, myself included, complain about how fast time goes. I believe the remedy for that is to really allow myself to be where I am right now. To periodically take a deep breath and really tune in to what’s happening in front of me at this moment. And eventually, as I practice, I will get better at savoring and being present.
Colossians 3:17 says, “Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
When I’m feeling rushed or overwhelmed or victimized in some way by my to-do list, I try and find something to be thankful for. And there’s always something. This simple practice helps me remember that when I do every little thing in my life in the name of Jesus, even my mundane day to day goings on become holy and dedicated to Him. He often has something to teach me in the smallest detail, but unless I slow down with a thankful heart and listen, I will miss it. There is often hidden beauty that can only be seen if I stop and look for it. And my Abba makes some really beautiful things. I don’t want to miss a single one.
In the comments below, share something you’re thankful for today!
Jennifer Erickson, a graduate of RWIT Platoon 21 is an active Revelation Fitness instructor, writer, and seminary student. She lives in St. Louis, MO with her husband and 3 children. You can follow her on Facebook.
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26 Responses
Thank you for this perspective. I Homeschool my kids and the “just get school done” attitude tends to overwhelm me some days. I am thankful the Lord has chosen me to school my kids at this time in both their lives and mine. He walks with me at every step.
What a blessing to teach your kids, Amy! Thanks for sharing.
This so blatantly and lovingly spoke to me today. I was lamenting the fact (again!) that i don’t seem to have time to do everything i need to. this task and that – all have to be done – it was wearing me out.
my husband and i had literally just been discussing all of this and reading from proverbs about wisdom, and hearing her call to us. i opened my email and yours was at the top of my list! And the verse you quote from colossians is one we had just used as part of scripture for a women’s planning committee. it was like a direct nudge (gift!) from the lord. thank you for sharing. today, i will put my focus on what’s right in front of me, with god’s help.
HOW AWESOME, Vicki! Thanks for sharing!!
Thank you for this reminder. I need to slow down and savor the moments. I am a list maker and feel accomplished when the list is complete. I get frustrated when i dOn’t complete my tasks for the day. Need to work on this.
I’m a list maker also, Jennifer! Lists are super helpful, except when I start to measure my success by them. Thanks for sharing!
Wow! This is so convicting. Thank you for the reminder to slow down and savor the beauty in front of Me instead of constantly rushing to thE next task 🙂
This is a great reminder for all of us. 🙂
I am THANKFUL for you Jen!! For your loving hUmility and wise heart! I am thankful for this day and As i’m up before my kiddos im challenged to give Praise for the “inconveniences” of the life of a mama, for breathe, and the beautiful mundane places of life. Love you sister!
Yay! The Lord will meet you in the mundane. I’m so glad this post blessed you!
Hi Platoon 21 sister!
Thanks so much for your wriTing today! I no lOnger have littles at home. But i was really able to take what you said and apply it to a separate struggle in my life right now. ThAnk you for allowing God to use you in this way! Blessings to you
I’m so glad this blessed you, Sandra!
Thank you, so needed and God spoke to me through your words, now lord help me make the changes you are asking of me, to trust your ways as i learn to let go of my ways…it is hard lord but I know you will meet me in the hard with your sufficient grace
I’m praying that prayer with you, Rhonda!
Thank you for this messaGe. I feel convicted of this often and just recently gave up social media again due to the fact it was stealing my precious time away from my childRen. I have 5 kids, and 2 Are hOmeschool age. So my to-do list aLwaus seems daunting and i constantly have to check to heart and attiTude. Thank you again for the reminder!
Thanks for sharing, Haley!
This post was like reading my journal. My children also attend a university model school and yesterday was a hard day. I was questioning everything. The Lord reminded me that I am the Lead learner and I get to be in the battle for my children. My own childhood was rife with neglect. This is my chance to change the story.
Thank you so much for sharing, Amber! Wow! I love how you say you are the Lead Learner.
Thank you so much for this! My son is cyber-schooled and I feel this way A LOT! Now, God is laying on my heart to do it myself and cut out the cyber program and to also bring home my Younger son for these exact reasons but in the processes it means laying down my own plans and agendas and become fully present. Struggling with it right now. I appreciate you sharing this today. <3
You’re a great Mama, Lori! Thank you for sharing!
Jen, so good! I needed to hear this. Appreciating and savoring each moment is a beautiful gift. thank you for sharing holy moments with us!
Yes! It is so good to take the time to savor each moment 🙂
This was a timely reminder! We homeschOol and i can even Hear myself proudly say “we got scHool done”, and yet i DIDN’T savor a bit of it. I’ve been wanting to move away from living by “needs” or a to do List and let God dictate my pace of life. Thank you!
Thank you for sharing, Melany!
Thankfulness is a beautiful thing and yet how i have noticed the enemy removing the ability to be thankful by telling me that im not Really being thankful when i mention things that Anyone could say. He has told me i have taken God for granted when i Haven’t noticed how God is working in my life in the moment. You know, the moments when life is good and you look for God and He is in everything yet nothing of “significance” or when life isn’t going quite how you expected and you just can see God so you thank him for the sheets On your bed, for the bed you are laying in or the home you have. How may time can you use your home, car, sheets and bed as your thankful thing feom God. But i have come to reaLize no matter how aimple it is, giving God thanks every day for as long as i live in that houSe or sleep on that bed with those sheets is worth reminding my heart to be grateful for the simple so as to live With a heart of gratitude. God looks at the heart and not and the long prayer full of words. Matt 6:6-8 He is more concerned about my heart than my words. Praise the Lord for that freedom.
So wIth that (mostly written to remind myself that It is gratitude i have towards these things) i am grateful for:
– My home that we are in only because gave it to Us. We never would have had it without him.
– That my husband is still with us after almost two years of lung cancer diagnosis and is doing SO WELL he baffles the oncoloGist.
– my bed and my sheets.
– my children and their spouses
– my puppies (they make me laugh and give such UNCONDITIONAL love in snuggles and Kisses.
– provision. Every songle need has been met.
– i could go on, but that’d be another blog post. 😉
This is beautiful and wise, Patty! Thank you so much for sharing! I pray that we are all prompted to give God thanks even when we don’t “feel” like it.