I am rocking in the new summer morning, bathed in fresh rain. I am breathing in the clean air. Son is on the other rocker, nose in his iPod, playing a game. With enthusiasm about to make him burst, he erupts, “It’s my favorite game! Ooh! Ooh! Can you guess? Can you guess what it is called? It’s starts with Mine.”
I heard “mind”, and had no idea — so I said so.
He gives me the answer, “Mine Craft! Can I show the world I made?”
I ignore the question. Phone in hand, I have my YouVersion Bible app open. I am ready to read day 44 of the Bible in 90 days. At that moment, that is what I want to be doing. The setting could not be better. This picturesque morning. Resting peace. Light rain falling. Cool breeze blowing. I have a moment to myself. Time to read. So, I thought.
He remarks, “This is nice.”
Yes, I reply. “The breeze is refreshing, and I love to listen to the rain fall.”
Without taking his eyes off the screen, he speaks an unsolicited endearment straight from his honest, open-heart, “No. Spending time with you.”
The breath is knocked out of me. I am here with him, but I am not present with him. He gets it, and I don’t. I am with him in the flesh, but my mind is elsewhere — preoccupied. Day 44 needs a highlight, marked-off complete. My heart is wishing he was still asleep so I can be alone. Alone, to miss a moment to parent as God parents?
A child’s words snap me out of my self-righteous, religious world. Jesus isn’t found there. He’s with the children. <— click to tweet this
So I leave mine and enter his, “Yes, show me your world.”
He’s standing next to me by now — rambling about goat traps and castles on mountains he built. He’s showing me the game, but not really. At the angle he holds the device, I cannot see the screen. It doesn’t matter really, because I see now, what I need to.
He continues on about big rooms, and the white chickens fighting off not-so-scary blue zombies. I am staring up at the contours of his soft round features of his baby face. I notice he has developed a few dozen more scattered freckles since summer began. I mark in my memory how cute his 9 year old button nose is. I drink in how he loves this mama — his mama who after all these years feels she should know better, and be further along.
He doesn’t seem to notice all those things I fuss and worry over. He pulls Toddler Baby Girl’s rocker over to sit and stay close. He’s content with just being near. He continues to play his game. I grab my camera, which is never too far from where I am. I snap a few shots, trying to capture this moment, still. My memory fails me. God reminds me.
I wonder so often, through out my days, Where’s time to do it all? God replies, “When your priorities are in line with Mine, you will have time to do My will.” <— click to tweet this
As I am almost done filling Son’s love tank with “quality time”, this mama knows without any wonder, I have the time for this “God thing” I am doing.
I am thankful for… #606-633
– how he loves this mama.
– Son content with just being near.
– Son’s unsolicited endearment straight from his honest, open-heart.
– children doing chores without being reminded.
– eldest beauty sharing stories, as she is beginning to see the least of these as He sees them.
– learning about our new writing program so I can teach my children, the lost tools of writing.
– keeping up with the Bible in 90 Days.
– love, support and prayers from my husband.
– beautiful blogging friends I have made.
– God speaking.
– friends that never cease to encourage.
– friends whose words fill my heart soul rich.
– family sleepover with a most beautiful, generous, Godly family.
– spending the evening on the beach with them.
– rising early for pancake breakfast at the springs.
– Son sharing dreams of owning snakes that make snake babies.
– Son’s deep pondering deep of life’s issues, when he is supposed to be taking out the trash.
– time to write.
– home church and a friend came.
– the new pastor speaking convicting truth about the heart of Jesus.
– Jesus and pastor teaching to leave the 99 sheep to go after the one lost.
– clarity of mind.
3 gifts of enthusiasm
– Pastor Brian Houston’s Message “Better than Average” — because there is nothing average about God.
– those who out-do me in eagerness, passion & zeal, and challenge me, and stir the dreams inside.
–Toddler baby girl in her princess shoes.