Moment by moment, task by task...

A list of today's "to dos" was going through my mind, just now, as I was feeding Ethan...and then, I began to muse...


One of my daughters said something to me the other day which spurred my thinking.~

"That is one of the best things you taught us, Mama. To love something ~ and then let go."

And, I thought to myself, "I taught you that? When? How?"
And, then I realized that we are exemplifying and/or teaching something ALL THE TIME, no matter what we are doing.

I spent much of my young motherhood rushing through my tasks in order to get to something "important" that I needed or wanted to do. Rushing through dishes, rushing through laundry, rushing through children's care... so that I could do that thing that "really mattered". How often would that "worthy goal" remain elusive, as another mealtime came and went, creating yet more dishes? How many times did I regard the "menial" chores with frustration, as they "got in my way" of pursuing something "greater". How often did the repetitive demands of the children become a source of irritation?  Oh, to be able view each task or interruption as an opportunity to say, "I care about you"! To purpose to pause from whatever task to listen, to look the "interrupter" in the eye, perhaps to clasp a hand or fully embrace...to teach true love, to teach Truth, by word or by deed!  Those are my aspirations!!!


Here's what I am learning... I don't really remember what those "grand" accomplishments were supposed to be.  Somehow, 33+ years of motherhood have swished by. Really swished!!!  Half of our children are completely grown and establishing themselves in the world, and the other half are half-grown. What they rehearse to me as memorable and important has dramatically changed my perspective on what is truly of consequence in this life.

No matter what task is at hand, if I am tempted to feel hindered or held back from what I think I really ought to be doing, I hear God's voice, speak to my heart "This is your work. This moment."  And, a  wave of peaceful contentment overwhelms me. Each moment can be filled with purpose. Each task is filled with opportunity, if we but pause to consider it.


Here are the keys to making that happen: 

"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going." (Ecclesiastes 9:10)

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men," (Colossians 3:23)

"Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31)

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Colossians 3:17

"Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." (1 Peter 4:11)