Time with Him
I love Saturday mornings when my husband is home. I love slipping out of bed to leisurely grab a shower or better yet, a hot bath with a book and a locked door (that ever evasive, dreamy locked door). I love watching him make breakfast and plan our fun day together, where we refresh one another and get the self-care we only dream about during the mad rush of the week. I simply love time with him, so it’s good to see him in the flesh, dote on him, get spoiled as much as possible, (and I do try), and just unwind.
Throughout the week, it is wildly different. Although I know he is my partner in crime, or better yet, grime, it seems like I take on more of the family unpleasantries through the week, and by necessity of course. He’s the main breadwinner of the family and gone throughout the day, so many of the stinky daytime tasks are mine, like taking out filthy trash, touching raw meat, changing messy diapers, combing complicated knots out of the girls’ thick hair, visiting doctors, carpooling, and doing last night’s crusty dishes and rumpled laundry, dusting, vacuuming, and – you are getting bored reading this list you know oh-so-well so I’ll stop.
However, even though I believe and consciously know he is helping me mid-week, by providing for our household and helping me in various ways in the evenings, I forget that partnership simply because I am the one in the trenches all day long. He may be busy and helpful elsewhere, but at home, it often feels like it is feast or famine if I don’t jump through hoops to get things done.
Lately, in the quiet moments of free time I get, I have been stealing away moments with God – in my office, in the locked bathroom, in front of the ocean, or late at night when the kids are asleep. I need to take time this way and I’m glad I do. However, when I don’t reach out to Him in the everyday moments, it’s almost like I do the same thing with Him that I do with my husband. Like, on Sunday morning, or during my quiet times through the week, I put my trust in God, and I believe in Him, since I feel His presence as I engage in His word. When I am not spending quality time with Him, however, I don’t feel His support as much. I believe in Him, but I don’t operate at the same high level since I am not living with Him moment to moment.
Silly thing is, unlike in the case with my husband who physically has to go somewhere to work, God is omnipresent (everywhere at the same time). I can live in the moment to moment with God. I can believe in Him and also believe Him for the day-to-day moments of life. I can and should trust Him with each quandary that comes my way, and there are plenty of those to give over to Him, per my usual drama. Thankfully, He reminds us and commands us even, to look out for His kingdom and righteousness instead of being dramatic about our worries, saying, “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.” (Matt 6:31-32). This week, join me in spending the moment-to-moment time with God, releasing fears, being more thankful, and just getting to know Him better.
Bring it Home: Write this Bible verse into your phone to show up as a reminder to you every day this week, or several times a day so you can be reminded to surrender your thoughts to Him more than just on occasion.
Mommy Moments: With the kids, try to think of things that are interesting when you see one of them get caught in a worried or discouraged moment. Bring joy and fun into their learning by offering homework help, a hug, a snack, or a brief interlude from the regular activity. Share this weeks verse with them, too, so they know God is truly cool. He doesn’t want them to waste one minute worrying, since He loves a good time when there is time to relax after a hard day!
Pray Up: Dear Lord, You know I love you, but I get very distracted by the worries in my heart, so much that I forget to take part in the moment to moment fellowship with you that we both long to enjoy. Please help me to get on the same page with you throughout the day so I spend literally none of my precious time being fearful or distracted from the good You have for me. Thank you for showing me the way to peace. You! Amen.
Excerpted from Messy Buns and Cartwheels by Christa Hardin, MA