Be in the moment

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery. Today? Today is a gift. That’s why we call it the present. (Kung Fu Panda... though I'm sure it didn't originate with them )

My cereal is gone. The kids have far to go. I'm antsy.

I finally give in and move to the floor to play *something*. I watch the clock thinking of all the other things I could be doing. (Forget that I probably wouldn't be doing them anyway.)

I wash the dishes, sweep the floor, clear the table as fast as I can so I can get to the next thing. Something fun.

I look around this house thinking of every chore that has gone neglected... and I dread that I really should do them. Know that I would enjoy my home so much more if I did. Wish My Beloved had a nice place to come home too. Many of them go undone another day.

I sit again to plan... a routine, preschool activities, today's to do list... but put off doing them, or miss doing them entirely.

I stare into the computer screen, blog after blog, article after article, encouragement after encouragement. And I am encouraged. Motivated. Sometimes I jump up and get some little something done... or at least started.

I'm determined... every day will be different. Every tomorrow will begin the new way. Every yesterday is the same... the very same.

What's worse... I've always been this way.

As a kid, I just couldn't wait to be older. In high school I just wanted to be in college. In college I just couldn't wait to go to the mission field (or be married). After college, when nothing I expected was happening, I just couldn't wait to know what was coming.

Then I met and married My Beloved. Thankfully I didn't have to wait long between the two events. But once we were married I just couldn't wait to have children (time I wish now I'd enjoyed a little more deliberately!) Pregnant, I couldn't wait for the baby to come. He came and it was one stage I couldn't wait for after another. Couldn't wait until he laughs, crawls, eats, talks, sings. Oh, and I just couldn't wait to start homeschooling. Now that we are doing some preschool, I just can't wait until we're doing the older kid stuff.

In some ways I've gotten better. With each additional child, I'm more happy to wait for each new stage, holding on to the baby as long as I can. But Overall, I'm just still waiting for the next moment to come.


Why do I do this? Why am I wishing away the present? This gift.

I need to be in each moment. Not just get through it.

When my 4 year old is telling another story with no point (or that I just don't understand), I need to be there listening, not waiting until he's done so that we can get back to the basics of living. His stories are the basics of living!

When chores take longer because we're doing them together, or when some activity is making another huge mess I'll need to clean up, I need to be in those moments, not dreading the lost time. This is what time is here for!

When I look around at the house needing so much work or the chores list soooo long, I need to get up and get going. Gather my children around me and take one thing at a time, not worrying that it's going to take all day. This is what the day is here for.


I was standing at the sink, washing a high pile of dishes when this whole concept hit me over the head. Punched me in the face. Pushed me over.

Still I'm digesting it.

We are to live for now? The point of this life is what we are doing with now?

Yesterday is forgiven (assuming of course you are living a redeemed life). Tomorrow will take care of itself (Matthew 6:34). Today... today is for living. And each moment we have only one opportunity to use the best way possible. Do I really want to spend this moment, that I will never get back, looking forward to the next?

Join me next week as I continue to contemplate.

Labels: Life Lessons for Mommy, Raising Children

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 7:29 AM