Living Each Moment instead of Each Square
Recently I read something I wrote when my daughters who are now almost 29 and 33, were little girls. The truth of what I wrote applies to any age
"Laura, Laura!" I yelled again for my seven year old daughter while I tied the shoes of her three year old sister. "We're going to be late for the movie."
Laura yelled back"Where's my red purse? I can't go without it."
"Forget it and come now or we won't go at all." My voice rose with each word.
I looked down in time to see my younger daughter throw off her coat and run to the bathroom.
Finally Laura and Jessica were in the car strapped into their seats. Finally I flopped into my seat beside my usually patient husband, Steve. Baby Josh had been crying and Chris our eldest had been making noises appropriate for his intergalactic imagination. Through gritted teeth I snarled the words " We're going to have a good time if it kills us."
Sounds familiar? Many times we plan activities hoping to create good memories of family togetherness only to find that lost shoes, spilled milk, and sibling rivalry still prevail. We schedule a picnic or an outing to a museum. I set these days apart and eagerly look forward to these events, I anticipate a temporary reprieve from the same old thing. My expectation is that all the irritations of daily life will be lifted. My children won't fight. I will easily find left shoes and right shoes that match. Available parking spaces will be abundant. A new variation on the law of gravity will keep all food or drink from falling on the floor or my children's clothing while we are out. Each of them will only have to use the bathroom when there is one. Unfortunately some of these irritations are very evident before the car has even pulled out of the driveway.
What is my problem? Perhaps the answer lies in how I view these squares I see before me in my calendar. My days stretch before me like this orderly parade of gray squares each of them the same as the one before and the one after. Occasionally those squares are brightened by a birthday cake, a Christmas tree, candy hearts, an Easter bunny, or the letters spelling vacation. I have learned that colorful decals are no guarantee of family fun or warm memories but neither are gray squares impenetrable barriers to precious moments.
Looking back on this time I can see that these ideas still hold true today. We have a terrible tendency to label our days instead of living each day moment by moment. How quickly we decide if this day is going to be bad or good, special or ordinary. If the normal irritations of life dare intrude on days we have deemed special, we resent them more than we would on ordinary days. If things such as an unexpected bill, a failed recipe, children fighting, or sinus congestion tempt us to label another day bad or at best ordinary, we are likely to miss things such as answered prayer, the beauty of creation, or signs of spiritual growth in a family member or a friend. We want to simplify life but because we are affected everyday by the sinfulness of man and the redemptive power of God's grace, our lives are rarely simple. Our frustration at having both in our lives highlights our longing for heaven. Only then will we be wrapped in God's grace and no longer pulled away by the power of sin. For now trust in God's character. Keep your eyes and ears open to blessings God has given you and all of His people.
"Laura, Laura!" I yelled again for my seven year old daughter while I tied the shoes of her three year old sister. "We're going to be late for the movie."
Laura yelled back"Where's my red purse? I can't go without it."
"Forget it and come now or we won't go at all." My voice rose with each word.
I looked down in time to see my younger daughter throw off her coat and run to the bathroom.
Finally Laura and Jessica were in the car strapped into their seats. Finally I flopped into my seat beside my usually patient husband, Steve. Baby Josh had been crying and Chris our eldest had been making noises appropriate for his intergalactic imagination. Through gritted teeth I snarled the words " We're going to have a good time if it kills us."
Sounds familiar? Many times we plan activities hoping to create good memories of family togetherness only to find that lost shoes, spilled milk, and sibling rivalry still prevail. We schedule a picnic or an outing to a museum. I set these days apart and eagerly look forward to these events, I anticipate a temporary reprieve from the same old thing. My expectation is that all the irritations of daily life will be lifted. My children won't fight. I will easily find left shoes and right shoes that match. Available parking spaces will be abundant. A new variation on the law of gravity will keep all food or drink from falling on the floor or my children's clothing while we are out. Each of them will only have to use the bathroom when there is one. Unfortunately some of these irritations are very evident before the car has even pulled out of the driveway.
What is my problem? Perhaps the answer lies in how I view these squares I see before me in my calendar. My days stretch before me like this orderly parade of gray squares each of them the same as the one before and the one after. Occasionally those squares are brightened by a birthday cake, a Christmas tree, candy hearts, an Easter bunny, or the letters spelling vacation. I have learned that colorful decals are no guarantee of family fun or warm memories but neither are gray squares impenetrable barriers to precious moments.
Looking back on this time I can see that these ideas still hold true today. We have a terrible tendency to label our days instead of living each day moment by moment. How quickly we decide if this day is going to be bad or good, special or ordinary. If the normal irritations of life dare intrude on days we have deemed special, we resent them more than we would on ordinary days. If things such as an unexpected bill, a failed recipe, children fighting, or sinus congestion tempt us to label another day bad or at best ordinary, we are likely to miss things such as answered prayer, the beauty of creation, or signs of spiritual growth in a family member or a friend. We want to simplify life but because we are affected everyday by the sinfulness of man and the redemptive power of God's grace, our lives are rarely simple. Our frustration at having both in our lives highlights our longing for heaven. Only then will we be wrapped in God's grace and no longer pulled away by the power of sin. For now trust in God's character. Keep your eyes and ears open to blessings God has given you and all of His people.
Oh, Joanie, this is so true! I'm going to meditate on these thoughts...it is true that I so quickly label this "day" as spoiled or frustrating or whatever when a grateful heart would enjoy the coming blessings instead of overlooking them. Thank you!
ReplyDelete