Skip to main content

Where Are You Going So Fast?? - Day 4

I rushed past a friend of mine and her son walking down the sidewalk.  I had Ginger by the hand, pulling.  We had just dropped her siblings off at school and were heading back to the car for the next thing. We hurried, but my friend and her son meandered.  Her son was showing her things he discovered along the way while she followed his lead and walked at his pace.

As we passed, us Moms exchanged pleasantries while in the background, my mind wondered how nice it must feel to have time to walk slowly with her son like she was.  We got to the car, I plopped Ginger in her car seat, buckled, ran around to my side, buckled, turned the car on....and met my friend's eyes in the distance again.  She waved while her son crouched on the sidewalk, looking at something. It started to dawn on me, the only deadline I had to meet was one of my own making. I was rushing just to catch myself, and rushing my sweet little girl along with me.

I walked through the rest of that day with new eyes thanks to my friend.  I felt the pull of my hand as I made Ginger's stride try to match my own.  I heard my voice repeating, "hurry up!" "let's go lightning speed!" "We've gotta go NOW!" and too many other exclamation points.  I realized how little I was actually looking at her instead of dragging her behind me while I collected check marks on my "to-do" list.  Watching my friend give up the few extra minutes it took to walk the sidewalk at her child's pace instead of hers and was profound. I was jealous of her heart's ability to let his pace rule her world.  I was jealous of the grace and peace and wonder that she seemed to have found on the sidewalk.

Slow down sweet Mommas.  You aren't supposed to be rushing through life with preschoolers.  Their short little legs are meant to be a clue to us that life needs to be lived slower with our young ones.  This lifestyle won't come naturally to most of us. It will need to be fought for and wrested from the clutches of a culture that wants you to do everything but experience nothing.  Follow my friend's lead....to follow your child's lead and slow the pace.  It will be magical for them and a balm for you.

When you follow your child's lead you'll actually be following the Good Shepherd's lead. This how he cares for you, my friends,

Isaiah 40:11
"....He will tend his flock like a shepherd;
He will gather the lambs in His arms;
He will carry them in His bosom,
and gently lead those that are with young."




Comments

  1. It sounds like a trite old lady expression....but as I'm sitting here next to my almost 20 year "baby" I can't resist telling you that It. Goes. So. FAST!!! Thanks so much for reading Jennifer!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you! I needed this today. Love you, friend.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Have you read Hands Free Mama? It rocked my face off and is in this same vein.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have not read it Holly....but it's on my reading list now! I love adding books to my list that come with a recommendation like that...."it rocked my face off!" AWESOME!!!

      Delete
    2. You're quite welcome. She has a Facebook page and her nuggets are gold. The Holy Spirit pokes at my heart a lot through her words...

      Delete

Post a Comment

I'd love to hear what you think!

Popular posts from this blog

The Best Gift a Mother Can Give - The Glorious Table

The wind blew as we gathered around the graveside, and I watched this large, beautiful family say goodbye to their beloved grandmother. There was sadness and there were tears, but the most striking thing was the togetherness laced in, around, and among every emotion and experience of the day. Watching this family, buoyed by their togetherness, prompted a light bulb moment and sent my mind traveling back to my first wrestling match with a big  mom fear . “How can I possibly love my second baby as much as my first?” “Is there enough of me for both of them?” “Will having another baby rob the ones I already have of what they deserve?” I had heard it said that the best gift you can give your child is a sibling. My oldest was only nine months old when I found out number two was going to join our family sooner than my master plan called for. I felt I was just beginning to get my “mom sea legs” and being a mom to two was a bigger challenge than I could get my head around. Everything felt like

The Fight for Control - Day 3

Preschoolers' bodies contain a power that defies the laws of physics.  Moms of preschoolers know there is definitely something metaphysical going on in their homes.  It's also clear to Moms like me that every now and then, a special child comes along with whom the force is especially strong. I had a cute little 3-year-old boy who often left me slack-jawed and feeling outflanked.  His will was strong and it was aided and abetted by a deft use of words and logic.  Maybe you've encountered a kid like him.....you can recognize them by the iron glint in their eyes and the furrowed brows of their Mommas.  Maybe you've got one living under your own roof. Even though it felt like Trevor and I jockeyed for position forever...but it was really just a chunk of Trev's 3rd year.  Let me tell you, it was one INTENSE year, but it wasn't eternal.  Our toughest head-to-heads seemed to always happen on evenings Scott was at a late meeting and I was flying solo.  They start

We've Seen Their Faces!!

Ready to have your mind blown?   Have we got a referral story for you!  It's a like a book with a plot that sucks you in right from the start, leaving you gritty-eyed from endless "just-one-more-chapter" nights.  You mean to put the book down and sleep like a normal person...but then the last paragraph of each chapter makes your eyes go wide and steals all willpower except for the "page turning" kind.  One twist in the plot after another that you COULDN'T SEE COMING....twists that are the best satisfaction a plot could offer.  It's better than what you hoped was coming and leaves you amazed at the writer's craft.  Ever read a book like that?? I have.  I LOOOVE them.  The past few weeks have shown me that I SUPER LOOOOVE living that kind of plot! A good story has to start at the beginning.....Once upon a time, God stirred our hearts in an undeniable way and called us to respond to His orphaned children by making a few of them Floridas .  We g