I will have you know that the 2nd episode of Coal House aired at 8:30 tonight, but my precious husband is not here, so we are recording it and watching it as soon as he gets home! I wanted to just watch it without him, because I'm sweet like that, but I told him I could hold off till 10pm exactly, so he better be walking in the door in the next few minutes or he might miss it.
Anyway.
I was thinking back to how much time I had on my hands before the girls entered our lives and I remember times in Pontypool when Marc was out of the house, and it was just me and the dog Skip. Those of you not fortunate enough to have known Skip, you missed out. ;) Skip and I would curl up on the couch (yes, he was capable of sitting still!) and I would read my Bible and listen to music. I had such great times with the Lord in that little tiny flat above the church. I was thinking about all of this the last few mornings, when Cerys has been wide awake at 6:45am. I try to come downstairs before she is awake to read my Bible and get things sorted out for the day, but inevitably, she hears me open the child safety gate at the top of the stairs. And our house is old, so the wood underneath the steps creaks all the way down! Argh! I try to sneak every so quietly but most of the time, she darts out of her room and wants to come downstairs with me. Oh the days when I could have some solitude at any time of day! ;)
In reading Elizabeth Prentiss, More Love To Thee that I have mentioned before, it talks about her life before children. Before she was married, she taught school in Richmond, Virginia and would enjoy hours to herself each morning and evening to spend time with God. A few years and several children later,
"She found the demands of day and night exhausting. No longer could she maintain her routine devotional times...Lamenting the poverty of her spiritual state she began to miss those rich devotional hours of her time in Richmond. George (her husband) tried to comfort her, telling her that the Richmond years had been the time for contemplation: this season of her life was for action. God would not demand of her a consistency in prayer that was simply impractical. But despite her husband's best efforts Elizabeth still felt miserable."
I had to laugh at how she didn't feel better even after her husband tried to encourage her. How many times has Marc said to me "you are being too hard on yourself" or "stop beating yourself up over this!" The fact is, this time in my life is for action. I don't have a choice. I have a husband and 2 sweet girls to look after. Surely God is pleased with my efforts, as I call on Him in the midst of washing dishes or changing nappies.
One day I'm sure that I will be able to have uninterrupted quiet times again. And I will probably miss the interruptions dearly.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
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10 comments:
I hear ya!! I am so there!!
i used to attend a bible study for mothers that a older lady, joyce, in our church held. she always talked about this lady in her neighborhood that would spend so much time in devotion..like hours a day. so much so that she neglected her children. many times they were at joyce's house for lunch becasue the mom was just too busy in her bible study to tak ecare of her own children. i dotn think thats what GOD intended when he asks for quiet time with us. we are doing a very important task for HIM. we are raising the next generation of christians. and if we have to find our quiet times in those moments, all be them brief, of washing the dishes, doing the laundry, even while in the bathroom, then i think that GOD understands.
Wow, I really need to get a copy of this book! I am totally with you on this issue...and I am sure this second one coming in a couple of weeks is not going to simplify my life any.
I can't wait for you guys to get here next month! We HAVE to get together sometime!
Thanks for this! I had this very same conversation with God yesterday, frustrated that Josh wouldn't have his nap so i could read my Bible, I reasd the same passage about ten times and in the end fell asleep exhausted and exasperated! So yeah I'm there too sister! xxx
I agree too, I felt that even getting married took up my time with God. Now I know He demands nothing of us but our love for Him, (not even sure if He 'demands' anything of us). It really is simple but so hard to get in my brain, He loves us mums to bring His children up in His ways not beat ourselves up cos we haven't spent time alone with Him!! I mean lets be honest, with small children when do we get to spend time alone with anyone..except when we are asleep!!!!
That is so encouraging to me, as I am now dealing with a soon-to-be toddler. I had so much more time before she came along. I know this is where God wants me, in action! So, I will strive to be good at it, and I will use the precious little moments I do have to spend with Him - like you said, changing nappies and washing dishes! Thanks for sharing that with us.
Man, I was just thinking about this today! As my withered and dry spirit is calling out for some Living Water, the very thing I need (quiet time alone with Him) is the one thing I can't seem to get....thanks for the encouragement!!
have you thought of using a white noise maker for the girls? I have one for Nate...
Yes Liz, they both have noise machines in their rooms. ;)
Thank you so much for sharing! I've been VERY hard on myself lately because I am walking out the door at 6:45 to get to school and walking back in the door at 4:30-5:00 with two anxious-to-see-mommy little boys at my ankles. It is SO hard not to feel resentful of them when all I want to do is sit down and just be by myself and God. I love spending time with them and then I feel like I should be taking care of the house. When I take care of the house I feel like I should be with them or Sean...and so on! I'm beginning to think that this is how Satan holds a family captive. Guilt is not something from God so I'm learning to release and just focus on the times that I do have with the Lord...like in the car in the morning. Thanks for reminding me that this is something that a lot of moms deal with. You are such an encouragement and blessing to me! Can't wait to see you guys soon!
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