Several times in the past couple months I’ve been asked to reflect on what I value in life and how I use my time. Part of me thinks, ‘Wow! How amazing that this keeps coming up in my life!’ I wonder how many times it’s been repeated previously but I chose to ignore it. It’s not only that I’m being asked to determine what is valuable and what takes my time…I’m required to see if they go together. Agh! I should be using my time to do what I value?! That’s just crazy talk…or is it?
What do you value in your life? What takes up your time? Okay then…do they fit together?
One of the things I value is relationships, especially my relationship with God, but I’m constantly feeling conflicted about not spending enough time with Him. In my mind, I should be getting up before my lovely children to spend quiet time with God every morning. In my reality, I’m not a morning person and will always choose to crawl out of bed at the last possible moment. God knows that about me and loves me anyway. So when can I spend time with Him – the one who knows me and loves me best? On May 1st, MOPS Mom Michelle Olson will help us answer that question. She will also encourage us to see God in our every day and to find those precious quiet moments with Him.
I value my family. I love my husband and my girls. Life is good…and busy…and filled with things to do and places to go. Unfortunately, how we all relate can get lost in the shuffle if we’re not careful. When I was a new mom, I was part of a mom’s group. One day our speaker shared something with us that I will never forget. She confessed that there were days that she couldn’t remember if she’d made eye contact with her children because she was so busy doing for them rather than being with them. Yikes – and it’s so easy…so easy to keep wiping that counter (or whatever you need to be wiping at the moment) and not look up to answer a little one’s questions. When we spend too much time going and doing, the relationship can get little lost or empty.
Thankfully, Callae Sparlin is returning on May 15th to show us ways to fill our children’s love tanks. No need to drive our family on empty anymore.
At the end of May, we’ll have a chance to bring everything together…our relationship with God, His love for us, our love for our children/family. On May 29th (a fifth Thursday), Susie Graham, Lake Grove Presbyterian’s Children’s Ministry Director (and a mother of a preschooler) will help us to encourage our children’s spiritual journeys.
For me, I think Nichole Nordeman says it best in her song “Legacy”:
“I want to leave a legacy How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love? Did I point to You enough
To make a mark on things I want to leave an offering A child of mercy and grace Who blessed Your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy”
