On Slowing Down and Giving Thanks
My mother is constantly telling me to slow down, to rest. And I know she’s right. For the past two years I’ve been trying to slow down, to determine to take in the moments and live the life of thanksgiving that every child of God should live. It’s the life of Eucharisteo that I’ve learned—no, I’m learning—from Ann Voskamp.
When Mom pleads with me to slow down, warns that I’ll get run down, she speaks with conviction. I’m just like her.
Mom playing hopscotch, Mother’s Day 2011
Women of action. With a primary love language of Acts of Service I struggle to do or not to do—it’s always the question.
Last week Mom fell down her stairs and broke her ankle, the first bone she’s broken. On the eve of Thanksgiving she’ll have surgery. She has no choice but to slow down. It’s been said that housework is something that’s rarely noticed unless it’s not done. When a person is unable or not around to do what they do daily, the details become painfully obvious.
What struck me those first few days after her fall was Mom’s lack of complaint. Surgery will take place over one week after her fall. One week broken. On the week of Thanksgiving when she anticipated attending every single service of Camp Meeting she could attend, and this year greeting for the first time {something she was eagerly awaiting}, Mom will be laid up. Mom loves Camp Meeting. She loves cooking and especially for family, for Thanksgiving. Though her cries have indicated her level of pain, not one single time has she complained.
I stopped by on Friday to check on Mom, home alone, to do what I could. During my visit she shared with me a dream, a nightmare, she’d had several days before her fall. She hadn’t mentioned it to Dad, to anyone, until after her fall down those stairs.
In her dream she was standing at the top of her stairs with a long robe-like garment. She doesn’t currently have a robe. Layers of material dripped from her arms covering her hands, draping all around her. She recalls thinking, “I can’t go down there like this. I’ll surely fall.” Then, as if she knew she was going to fall, she screamed to my Dad, “Jim! Help me, I’m falling down the stairs!” Her screams translated into muffled nightmarish groans, waking my dad, niece, and nephew. They quickly woke her.
Mom talked with me about how the Lord tries to get our attention, yet we often refuse to slow down and listen. “He who has ears to hear, let him hear,” He tells us throughout Scripture. But we’re too busy to hear. For now, Mom must be still. And I can assure you she’ll be listening intently, her heart of gratitude opening the gates for His presence.
I’m taking notice, wanting to learn from her fall, her experience, rather than my own. All the while I’m preparing to be available, to be present, for this mother who is there at a moment’s notice for her family. It is an honor and a privilege, yet an intimidating if not terrifying realization.
Understand that it’s not busy people alone who need to slow, turn their eyes to Him, thank Him for the very moment, the very circumstance, the very trial, to count it as grace, and listen. You don’t have to be a Martha fussing over pots to be too busy to hear Him, to sit at His feet. Busy about your facebook’s business, you can miss Him. Swimming in the muck and the mire of your own mess, you can miss Him. And yes, fussing over the pots and the potty training, you can miss Him.
Though I wouldn’t wish what Mom is going through on anyone, I know she’s right where she needs to be. Broken. Still. And thankful. And there He is. Always.
I’m an awful wretched mess. Slow to learn, I’ve done my share of fussing just these past few days in spite of her amazing example. My own layers are threatening to trip me, cause me to fall. Yet though I stumble, though I fall, I’m learning.
Christianity isn’t about growing good, it’s about growing grace-filled — Christ-like. ~ Ann Voskamp
Someone is going to have to be busy about cleaning Mama’s pots. What I hope to learn from this is to slow first, to give thanks in everything, to give thanks for those pots, and count it as grace. And while I scrub, to worship. Because His presence can be found even while scrubbing pots.
You made the point.
Great article! We will be linking to this particularly great post on our website. Keep up the great writing.
It is appropriate time to make a few plans for the future and it’s time to be happy.
I have read this put up and if I could I wish to counsel you
some fascinating things or advice. Perhaps you can write subsequent articles relating to this article.
I wish to learn more things approximately it!
I’m not that much of a internet reader to be honest
but your sites really nice, keep it up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your website to come
back down the road. Cheers
This paragraph is truly a fastidious one it helps new the web viewers, who are wishing for blogging.
Saved as a favorite, I love your blog!
This is my first time go to see at here and i am in fact impressed to read everthing at
one place.
Heya i’m for the first time here. I found this board and I
in finding It really helpful & it helped me out a lot.
I hope to provide something again and aid others such as you helped me.
Wow, this piece of writing is nice, my sister is analyzing such things, therefore I am going to tell her.
you are in point of fact a good webmaster. The site loading pace is amazing.
It seems that you are doing any distinctive trick. Furthermore, The contents are masterwork.
you’ve done a fantastic activity on this matter!
Thanks in support of sharing such a pleasant thinking, article is good,
thats why i have read it fully
Highly descriptive article, I liked that a lot. Will there be a
part 2?
I was suggested this website by my cousin. I’m not sure whether this post is written by him as no one else know such detailed about my problem.
You are wonderful! Thanks!
I was recommended this blog by my cousin. I’m not sure whether this post is written by him as no one else know such detailed about my problem.
You are incredible! Thanks!
If some one wishes expert view concerning blogging then i suggest him/her to go to see this website,
Keep up the good work.
Yes! Finally something about >.
Hi there, every time i used to check blog posts here early in the break of day,
because i love to find out more and more.
Hello There. I found your blog using msn. This is an extremely well written article.
I’ll be sure to bookmark it and return to read
more of your useful info. Thanks for the post. I will certainly comeback.