When You Look Back, What Will You See?
Monday, March 18, 2013 at 5:00AM
These days with our children are so very short.
You know that. I know you do.
I know it, too.
So why then do I fail to live in accordance with what I know?
Why do I waste so much time worrying about the little things?
Why do I fail so often to treasure each moment?
In just the past week, I've found myself:
~ fussing at my children at bedtime about messy rooms instead of sitting on their beds and just LISTENING to them
~ grumbling when they leave their dishes on the table, rather than simply picking them up cheerfully and giving them a gentle reminder about picking up after themselves
~ failing to look up from my computer when they are sharing something important with me
~ being critical of my children more than complimentary
When I look back on my life (specifically the years of raising my children) I want to see happiness, joy, laughter, and learning.
I want my children to see a mother that loved them above anything else, treasured them above anything else, and always had TIME for them.
Was I a FUN mom?
{One of my children said last week, "You never want us to have any fun!" That gave me great pause.}
I wrote last week about laying aside something I loved for the sake of my family.
But I am feeling the need to do more of that in the coming months.
I've been a bit restless because I've felt something missing.
I think what's been missing is a thankful attitude and a servant heart on my part.
Sometimes it might just take 40 years to grow up.
God has called me to be a mother for this season. It won't last forever, so this is my calling for now. It is a calling I am honored to accept.
It is also a calling the world tries to discount at every turn in the road.
But that's ok - I'm not trying to please the world. (Galatians 1:10, remember?)
***************
The Holy Spirit has truly been working in my life in the past few weeks.
While I still stumble, I'm receiving very CLEAR signs about the path I should be on. I'm receiving gentle nudges and whispers that give me courage, peace, and great joy.
Last weekend while we were away on a mini-vacation we took the kids to Krispy Kreme at 10 p.m.
They were shocked and very pleasantly surprised.
Better yet, we got EXTRA donuts for breakfast the next day, and let them eat them in bed watching cartoons.
When I look back, I want to see the 20+ years of raising children full of Krispy Kreme moments.
When my children look back I want them to remember a mom who laid the unimportant things aside to focus on her calling - raising THEM, educating them at HOME, and always having FUN!
Maybe then they will focus on that calling with their own children, too.
What about YOU? When you look back, what will YOU see?
Reader Comments (15)
Love this, Mary. Thanks for sharing your heart, I'm right there with you on this one. We're not perfect but if we SEE the behaviors in ourselves that we want to change and we try (with God's grace) that is a step in the right direction.
Love it! Definitely some things to ponder. LOVE pic and message w/Grant in the green car. :-)
I agree with you 100%, my only issue is I do a lot of "fun" things with my kids and then when we take a day to rest or do some things around the house they complain and accuse me of never letting them have fun. I then get really resentful as well when I ask them to do a few things for me and they complain that I shouldn't make them do so much work. I'm working on how to handle all of that.
Well put. I have to say, I am guilty of all those things you listed earlier in the post. Thanks for the reminder there are more important things in life.
I know exactly what you mean, Mary! I try to be SO conscious of this all the time, but I fail often. I can be very cranky and nit-picky...sometimes it's so hard to snap out of that cycle once I get into it! I try to do my best, and I apologize frequently.
Thank you, Mary. I try to be the fun mom, but more often than not I am stressing about what "needs to be done." I should know better because my oldest is almost 22 years old and I remember like yesterday snuggling him as a baby. It all goes by very fast.
Thank you for this! I have been feeling the same things over the past few months. I do way too much stressing and fussing & not enough listening, loving & enjoying. We need to remember we are on borrowed time. I can't do anything about the past but I can start over today- and I plan to! :)
You're writing my heart today. These same things are what I have been struggling with and praying for in my own family's life. I spend so much wasted time fussing, worrying, and complaining and not realizing the gifts I have been given. I want to enjoy the time I have with my children by creating fun memories like the Krispy Kreme trip you had with yours. I don't want to do these things because I am supposed to either, I want to want to do them and really have fun with my children while I am. I want them to know more than anything else that I love and treasure them. I want our relationship to be nurturing and built of trust, not out of fear and a sense of duty.
Wise words that we all need reminded of from time to time. You have done well to listen to your children. They will tell us when they are missing something.
Wonderful words of wisdom. Thank you for sharing.
I love this post, Mary. Allie is in seventh grade and I just feel time slipping by. I want to make teh most of the time we have with our kids at home with us. We are also learning to balance the Krispy Kreme moments with hard work and responsibility.
Love the photo, too!
Thanks for the reminder there are more important things in life.
Great post Mary! You know where I stand on all of this! HUZZAH! Life is a Celebration!
Mary, I felt these same convictions last year and have tried to make changes since then. The pace of our lives and the pressures close in on us and then our frustrations leak out (sometimes explode out) on our families. What a blessing for everyone when we say no to those things and yes to our children! Lovely and meaningful post.
I just read a wonderful little e-book the other night, When A Mother Follows Christ. It reminds me of your post. I'm learning to shut off the world, and be present for them. Look into their eyes when they talk to me and really listen to them - after all, I want the same attention and respect paid to me when I'm speaking! It's amazing when the connection is made, isn't it?! Thank you for the reminder today :)