Last Saturday we had a few hours to kill before heading to my sister’s house for dinner. We had planned to take the kids to the pumpkin patch but it was closed and we weren’t sure what to do with this random floating hour in our day.
So Ryan suggested that we head downtown to grab a cup of coffee and take a walk with the kids.
It was such a simple little activity (it wasn’t a spectacular Saturday activity like the pumpkin patch or the zoo), but it was one of the sweetest hours we’d spent as a family all week. Sipping coffee (hot chocolate for Oliver), wandering around the toy store, and exploring new little ins and outs of our little town. What a treat!
When I was in high school, by Bible teacher (whom we adored!) rebuked us one time when he overheard us using the phrase “time to kill”. Killing time? Is that really what we want to do? He reminded us that our time on Earth is important and not to be squandered or wished away. We shouldn’t be killing time, we should be utilizing it!
Just last week I was talking on the phone with my sister. She told me about another book she was reading (this time it was One Thousand Gifts
It’s an interesting way to look at things.
How are we filling the time we are given?
This may sound hokey, but stick with me. It has been very convicting for me if nothing else.
Are we filling our life’s jar of time with petty arguments or idleness? Or are we accumulating minutes and hours and days of eye contact, breaking bread together, praying for one another, reading God’s Word, and taking time to sit down with the ones God loves (yes, that’s everyone) to share His love with them?
As parents of small children, there’s not a ton of world rocking that takes place day-to-day. At least not as the world see it. But this long obedience in the same direction of reading to our children, teaching them, correcting them, building Lego playgrounds and cutting out ham sandwiches in the shapes of dinosaurs – even this can be world-rocking.
When it seems like our time is slipping by and our days seem to be one big blur of apples and peanut butter, we can remember our children’s brand new, sippy-cup-sized jars of time. By loving them and giving them our time, we are pouring into them the foundations that will prepare them for whatever the Lord has in store for their lives.
We are the cement pourers!
And the cement is a big mix of our words and time and actions and most importantly prayers to the God who knows and cares and loves our babies even more than we ever could.
Makes me not so eager to “kill time”.
But it doesn’t make me feel like every moment has to be a five-star moment, either. It gives me a focus with my children that needs to be renewed every day. This “long obedience in the same direction” (as my Pastor calls it) is just that – long. And worth it. And as sweet as a Saturday walk with your babies in the fall air.
Happy Tuesday, friends. How are y’all doing?
I love that! We are filling our time… Great thoughts. Thanks for sharing.
Love your blog, and posts like this are such an encouragement to me……Great post, and SO convicting! I was just talking to my best friend last night about how easy is it as a mom of young ones to use their naptime as a time to “relax, rejuvenate and refresh”….which is LEGITIMATE! But HOW are we doing that? By watching our favorite TV shows, getting sucked into a fantasy world? Diving into a novel? Perusing Pinterest? All those things are fun, in moderation. But to really rejuvenate and refresh ourselves, we should we sitting at the feet of God with our Bible in our hands, soaking in His Word & begging Him to teach us more about Himself.
Anyway, sorry I got on a little soapbox here and went on a little tangent, but I sincerely appreciate this post and really hope and pray that we can all make the most of our time! :)
By the way, what book is it that your sister was reading? I’m intrigued!
Becca – thanks so much for your response! I loved your thoughts about how exactly we are choosing to “rejuvenate” ourselves. It’s good as a community (be it blog writer or reader) to continue to point each other to Christ! Loved your soapbox! :)
I can’t remember the name of the book – but when I find out I’ll let y’all know.
Excellent. Good note of thought for us Moms with wee ones.
Makes you re-evaluate the little things that take up most of your day! Great thought
In my house, this is most true of the hours of 4p-7p. You know, those pre-bedtime hours where the kiddos are a little tired and a little grumpy and you start realizing that the day is slipping away and you probably haven’t accoplished as much as you thought you would. My husband and I have definitely looked at each other and said, “Sooo how are we going to kill time til bedtime?” But filling time is a much better way of looking at it. It also gives me motivation as I’m struggling with working full time; I’m still the cement pourer, and I can still do that with the hours that I have. Thanks for the encouragement! Also, LOVE the picture on the stoop with O kissing Hazel. Her expression is great, as well as his mega-puckered lips :D
What a fun family day. I remember those random, spontaneously fun days from growing up the most.
I’ve been thinking the same thing with an eight-month-old and another on the way. These are the moments that make life. They may never remember them, but my attitude and perspective shape our home. Sometimes, our kids NEED us to play with them, hold them, snuggle them. It’s those little things that build relationships, and relationships are at the heart of the gospel. When they are older, if I have failed to tie tightly the bonds between our hearts, I will have no way to communicate and demonstrate God’s love to them. . .
What book is your sister reading? I’m always on the lookout for something good!
i love this post. the beautiful pictures, the God-given words, all of it. :)
This is great! Perfect timing, too. Thank you!!!
You know what’s convicting? When I realize that I can pretty reliably come up with the name of Angelina Jolie’s children, but not that elusive scripture verse that I just KNOW I’m going to be embarrassed about when I look it up. So yeah. You’re absolutely correct.
I love you.
Girls,
The book was One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. How silly of me to forget!
this is fantastic Raechel :) sounds like i book i need to read!
Thank you Raechel, I needed that today. My last month has been a whirlwind of new schools (three for two kids- its complicated) sewing my heiny off in prep for Oktoberfest, (this weekend!) and prep for birthdays….and I forget to be mindful of how I fill my time. Sometime the rush just needs to sit down and be still and listen to the leaves for a minute (or palm trees as it were here in San Diego). Thanks for the reminder
Definitely something I needed to hear. Ever since I started my new job as a teacher, time has been a precious commodity in short supply. I used to lament how quickly the days were slipping by, but you are right, I need to shift my perspective and realize that every moment I spend with my family is one that matters, be it big or small. And sometimes it’s the small moments, the walks in the park, watering the flowers, what be it, that are the most precious. Thanks for the reminder!
love love love it!!! I think I need to read this each morning before we start our day!! It is soooo easy to get caught up in life to not enjoy. and must I add this came at just the right time for me:) Thanks Rachel for sharing!
That was an excellent read, thanks Rae. One Thousand Gifts was also an excellent read, it will pretty much challenge every conception of what you think it means to be “blessed” by God. Highly highly recommended.
Wonderful post and wonderful wonderful book… I am reading this book for the second time and it is AHHHH MAZING!
Had one of those moments tonight! Yay! Lay down in the living room with my son after dinner with all the lights out and two flashlights in our hands. What a fun time we had. An entire wall of our living room is boxes from our recent move, and I had to stay up later to get the dishes done, but totally worth it. Gotta be thinking more about how I want to fill my time. Great post!
Thank you for this. I needed it!
I needed this today. Glad I’m catching on my blog reading. Thanks. Ashley
so I am a 1st-time mommy smack-dab in the middle of my baby boy’s second week of life & though I love him with all of my heart & soul, this post was extremely…timely for this exhausted, sleep-deprived, barely-keeping-my-head-above-water mommy’s soul. thank you SO much for sharing…it was exactly what I needed to hear today.
smile. Congratulations on your little guy! And glad this post was helpful for you!
Pretty sure I see Philanthropy sneaking into the corner of one of your photos. It is my go-to store for gifts for my wife. Not a bad find for a guy from Minnesota, huh?
pretty impressive! And yep – that’s definitely Philanthropy!