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Monday, June 29, 2009

After spending four days with a friend going through a difficult time, I started my day early. My hope was to get some work done before any of my children awoke. An early morning radio interview was also on my agenda. After the short interview I settled in to start the catch up, when a blanket-draped son stumbled down the stairs at 6:15.

I was immediately taken back to the days when my children were very small. I could NOT get up before them. No matter how early I awoke, it seemed they had a Mommy-alarm clock that went off. I'd tip-toe through the house, quietly make the coffee and just be ready to settle in for some quiet time, when I'd have a little visitor climbing into my lap. My kids aren't the quiet kind either. My boys woke up in high gear, and continued at full speed until they collapsed at night.

This morning was a repeat of those early days. How does a teen age boy wake up at 6:15 in the summer, I wondered. I knew I could turn on the tv and keep him occupied while I returned to my work. But I looked at that sleepy 14-year-old face, and tossed my work plans out the window. I wrapped my arms around my boy and we snuggled up on the couch together.

Then I made us both egg sandwiches (our favorite: scrambled eggs, catsup on white bread) and we ate them side by side. Put our plates down and snuggled some more.

It seems as my kids get older, I treasure our time together more. When this son was three, I intellectually knew our time together would soon be over. Now my heart pounds out the reality of that knowledge. It's scary when you can count on one hand the number of years your child will be at home.

Today I have a devotion running on Crosswalk and Proverbs 31 about being a mom who keeps her promises. I wrote it a few years ago, but the truth of it speaks to me today. As a work-at-home mom, I have work to do all day long. It's always within reach, and it just keeps coming. And yet my children look to me to fulfill my spoken and unspoken promises, such as to be fully present when we are together, to enjoy their company, to have fun together, to teach them things and to model God's love.

It's always a treat when God uses something I wrote a long time ago, to speak to me today. So today, I'm reminded to revisit some of the unspoken promises between me and my children.

May God bless you today my friend.

In His Love,
Glynnis

7 comments:

Colleen said...

It is so true that God's time is not our time, and learning patience is gaining understanding that God will answer our prayers in His time, not our own. And as for the little ones growing up too fast, you are blessed to be a mom who realizes this and cherishes the time you have with them. Driving your kids all over the place seems burdensome, and takes up so much time. Then all of a sudden, they are driving themselves and you no longer have those times to talk one-on-one, and they are missed. My boys are all growing up so fast, with three of them adults now and two going off to college in the fall. Luckily, I still have a little one to snuggle, and I cherish those times, as I cherish the conversations with the older boys now and hear what they have learned and discerned from their time with me. I keep my promises to a minimum, so hopefully I won't have to break them. And I apologize if I do. Being real with your kids helps them to deal with the real world.

Renee Swope said...

I loved today's devo. It spoke to me the first time and it speaks to me again today. I also love your post about setting work and plans aside to be with Robbie. God uses you in so many ways to help me be a better mom!

Loved seeing you and spending that time together - all 4 of us - this weekend. God's so good!!!

Hugs,
Renee

Unknown said...

I remember those mornings when I could not rise with out some one soon to follow.  Today though it is my grandchildren that I tiptoe through the house to keep from waking up.  They are good sleepers, I normally never wake them.  I miss those times with my two children of sitting on the couch cuddling.  I was so consumed with my job and making a living I lost sight of all that was so important.  Those times you don't get back.  So I purpose to do better with my "grands".  There is always time for a snuggle now no matter what.  :-)

Jill Jemison said...

I've never posted on someone's blog so this is a first for me. I'm a mom of a 2 1/2 and 5 1/2 year old boys. Your devotion spoke to me today (reading a few days late, as I always seem to do!) I've been struggling with working a 10 hour a week job from home and attempting (with God's help and a lot of prayer) to figure out when to put in those hours...some here, some out of the house. One solution I thought of was to set aside my morn quiet time and shift it to afternoon while my youngest is sleeping. But then i have that mommy guilt that I'm not spending time with my older one. I also have that problem of somehow not getting up early enough before they do...trying to "work", quiet time with God and maybe get a little exercise time in - how do we fit it all in? Thank you for your reminder of spending snuggle time with your boys - even with a 14 year old - how inspirational! I think sometimes my 5 year old will one day soon think he's too old so I've realized I need to keep on doing it, especially when he's calling me to the couch now and put off whatever I'm doing so that he'll always want to do it, even when he's 25! I could so relate to your outlook on having so much to do - sometimes I feel like i take on too much but then I have to remember to listen to God to see if it's things I should be doing or things that I don't and need to say no to. Thank you for that reminder. I feel a connection with you and will continue to check on your blog and read your 31 devotions. I too was a journalism major from Michigan State and also have sung on our praise team at our community non denom church in Myrtle Beach and also raising 2 boys (much smaller fam I realize!) but I'm an older mom - we got started late, after my 9 year career in marketing for a tourism company. Now I'm staying home with them and doing my best not to get too involved in things! I have a home based business with 31 Gifts but it takes a back seat to my 10 hour consulting job for our local Art Museum. Anyway, thank you for letting me "speak" to you and thank you for your listening to God and following his calling. I may just have to get your work at home book soon to glean some good time management advice! have a great morning - off to my work! (and precious boys...) God Bless.

Jennifer DeDonato said...

Took to heart your devotional today. I had a Mom who did not keep promises she made to me or my brother. So now with children of my own I am sensitive to this topic. I love the way you talked about..."My boys woke up in high gear, and continued at full speed until they collapsed at night" because this is exactly how my boys are also. Feels good not to be alone :)

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