On Their Turf

Today my post goes back to the "root" purpose of starting this blog. I desired to keep myself accountable to spending good quality time doing whatever my boys wanted to do. In other words, an open ended, "What do you want to do with mommy?"

The experiment was/is a success. I still periodically have people ask if I am still spending time on my boys turf. It is great motivation to keep going!

Homeschooling does provide the opportunity to have one on one time with each child. But, really, homeschooling is time on MY turf. I am dictating what we do and when we do it. However, by the time school is over we usually end up on opposite ends of the house! I usually want alone time, while the boys want time to play.

On Tuesday night I had the rare occassion to spend time alone with Babyboy. At 22 months he finally got to touch play-doh. He has carried around tubs of play-doh countless times. I didn't have the courage to introduce him to the substance fearing I'd be picking up play-doh remnants every day after our school hours. Oldest and Middleson are quite able to pick up after themselves. Amazingly, Babyboy is content with the containers and really doesn't like to squish it, touch it, or mold it.

Today after school I asked the big boys what they wanted to do. Basketball was the activity of choice. Two big boys against mommy. It felt good to be back on their turf again.

Now, as I blog, they are contentedly Lego-ing in the basement. Happy kids = Happy mom. Spending time with them really is an investment.

We journey on....

Rest

It appears my last few blog posts have a common theme -- sit. wait. rest.

This is a tough one for me. The journey started several years ago. I have often used our travel time in the van as a time to memorize Bible verses or put them to song. On this particular day, we were reciting The 10 Commandments from Exodus 20. Verse 8 in this preschool-friendly version, said, "Rest on the Lord's Day". When I was a child I memorized, "Remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it Holy." I have lived my entire life going to church on Sunday. In that regard, it is a "special" day. But, Oldest asked, "Mommy, what does it mean to rest on the Lord's Day?" Rest? Really. I don't rest any day of the week. How can a mother rest? I wanted to say something like, "Oh, back then they had to rest on church day" or "That is part of the OLD Testament and now we don't have to do that." But, I wouldn't say that regarding the commandments that prohibit stealing or killing or committing adultry...or any of them for that matter. It is true, we are not under the Old Testament Law, but really it is listed with some big no's no's. I certainly don't equate killing someone with not-resting on the Lord's day.

In Genesis, after six days of creation it says, "By the seventh day, God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done."

I began to study what the Sabbath meant and what it means for me today. I had to wrestle with the concept that the word "sabbath" can't be separated from "rest".

A respected preacher I heard defined the Sabbath this way -- resting on the Sabbath means not producing. For some, it can't be a particular day -- like Sunday -- but it is ONE day out of SEVEN dedicated to worshipping God and ceasing to produce. It is trusting that when I stop producing, God can continue to produce on my behalf. It takes faith and trust to truly rest.

In prayer, I began to ask God how I could honor Him on the Sabbath. It isn't about a set of black and white rules of what can and can't be done. It is about the spirit of honoring the Lord.

As a mom, my weeks are busy, specifically with homeschooling my children. Saturday's are filled with sports and laundry and many other things. Sunday has become a bonus day. After church, I love to tackle a few things to make my week go a little smoother. If I can go to bed on Sunday night with the pantry stocked, dishwasher unloaded, laundry done, and school prepped, I am ready for the week. How can I possibly not produce on the Lord's Day -- all of my days are my days! Can I give one up?

I have to say, last week the Lord challenged me and answered the prayer I prayed when I asked how I could honor the Sabbath. I experienced a series of events that sound made-up!! I have been journaling daily and watching the week progress.....tickled at God's goodness! When I ceased to produce, God literally produced for me...and the week isn't even over.

Once again, I appreciate your feedback, comments, and private e-mails. I am still in the process of truly comprehending what "Honoring the Sabbath" means. How do you incorporate it into your life?

Waiting.

Waiting. It feels long and drawn out. If it isn't long, it doesn't feel like waiting does it? I don't wait at a green light. I wait at a red light. I have to come to a stand still or a complete stop. It isn't a comma or a dash. It is a period. A long period, not knowing how long the wait will last.

"Wait a minute. Just wait! Wait just a second!!"

Yesterday, a radio broadcast reminded its listeners of the instant society we live in. Beyond microwaved and fast food, we have scheduled early baby inductions, fast-dry nail polish, and instant oatmeal (is 5 minutes for the regular too long?). Children are encouraged to grow up quickly by the way they dress and even academically! Kindergarten is now more like first or second grade. The preschool years are dedicated to learning over playing and just being a kid. (As a homeschooling mom, I am NOT anti-education.)

This morning I read Psalm 40. It led me to study the words "wait", "waiting", and "waited" in the Bible. I even waited to post this blog because I am still in the process of mulling this over. There may be a part II. Just wait and see.

I found this rather humorous -- look at the Psalmist's words:
vs. 1 "I did not give up waiting for the Lord."
vs. 13 "O Lord Hurry...."
vs. 17 "Oh my God, do not wait!"

I chuckled as I read the passage because it hit so close to home! Sure Lord, I will wait. Okay, hurry up! I need an answer now!

Time is often needed to bring optimal results. A pregnancy is 40 weeks. Bread takes time to rise and cheese takes time to age. People are no different. The Bible is full of characters who required time on the potters wheel before they were used. That often came through waiting.

Waiting strengthens our spiritual muscles. I call it WAIT Lifting! Psalm 27 says, "Wait for the Lord. Be strong. Let your heart be strong. Yes wait for the Lord." Is there anything more difficult than needing answers, relief, understanding, or direction and being forced to wait?

I can think of several poor decisions I would have made had I NOT waited! Being hasty is foolish. I can also think of decisions I made in haste that I regret.

As I pondered the Bible's definition of "wait", I came to the conclusion that it doesn't include worry. Wait and worry should not co-exist. Waiting is a time to trust and be strong rather than anxiety and worry until the answer comes.

With no conclusive end to this study, I would love to hear your thoughts on waiting.

Now, I am waiting on you.