Happy September
by Joy Harvey
I sat down to write a dozen times in the past few weeks. Each time, my attention is pulled to an interruption- Mom comes by for a visit, a child needs a shoe found or a form signed, Hubby needs socks (doesn’t he always?), the phone rings, I remember to put on a crock pot meal…
The little guys are much bigger. My youngest is eleven now, my memories prompt me to chat about his returning home from school when he was little, asking me: “Mom, how do you spell ‘you are the love of my life?’” (A momentary Kindergarten phase in which the entire class was “in love”, according to the teacher). He smiles. The object of his affection long since gone, her Grandmom is now his science teacher. That is a big smile. Ha! I see that, God. Thanks for that memory. My nephew has repeated it in the form of asking his Mom Mom: “How do you spell “You are not allowed to leave?’” He wants her full attention, her promise to stay focused on him. It’s lovely.
My focus flutters now, I am certainly not as attuned to the little things. The little things make me happiest, however, when I take the time to notice them. While in the thick of the mothering, the teaching, the drudgery of the cleaning up, preparing for the next day- we often miss the day unfolding around us. My calendar is full, even with a purposeful reduction in activity and commitment. We try and force a time of rest with friends, with a meal once weekly- and it is tough to do! We moms become the bearer of the bulk of the work to be accomplished, taking care of us is secondary, maybe much further down the line than that.
I’d like to recommend a little devotional called “Jesus Calling”. I found a beautiful blush pink bound version at the Wal-Mart and try to keep it right on my kitchen table, in the midst of my life. It is just a small minute with the Lord, to set your heart right, to keep your thinking on Him. So far, so good- I am taking my few minutes with Him and a cup of coffee while my chaos swirls around me and I feel happier. I feel connected. He opens my eyes to things I’d have missed in the moment.
“Glory’s waiting
Outside your window
So wake on up from your slumber
And open up your eyes”
- "Slumber" by Needtobreathe
“Therefore it is said, ‘Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light’ … Do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”
(Ephesians 5:14 & 17)
“And when [Jesus] returned, He found [Peter, James and John] asleep again, for their eyes were heavy…”
(Mark 14:40)
God wants us to be alert and attentive, in tune to what He is doing in and around us. He wants us to be watching, waiting, and praying. He desires that we have clarity of mind and strength of mind and body. He aspires for us to rise up and stand up; to abide, accomplish, and succeed! Being awake and arising conveys all of this, and is key in discerning the will of the Lord for our lives.
Glory is waiting outside our windows. Sometimes our present realities are daunting, but we are strengthened in the process of pressing on. And our real strength – our true help – comes from the LORD. After all, the God of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps.
The kids are pulling me to a new direction, even as I write right now! “Mom!” “Joy!” my thirteen year old (how did that happen?!) changes and calls my first name in the hope that I will react sooner. Okay, I’m reacting. With a smile. Embrace the interruptions, just open up your eyes, Mama. See you soon for connecting, and coffee, and Mom time. You deserve it.
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