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.
After I initially left a comment I seem to have clicked on the -Notify me when new
comments are added- checkbox and now whenever a comment is added I
get four emails with the exact same comment. There
has to be a means you can remove me from that service?
Appreciate it!
It’s remarkable in favor of me to have a web site, which is valuable in support of my know-how.
thanks admin
Today, I went to the beach with my kids. I found
a sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She placed the shell to her ear and screamed.
There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear.
She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is entirely off
topic but I had to tell someone!
What’s up to every one, it’s in fact a good for me to go to see this web
page, it contains precious Information.
It’s fantastic that you are getting thoughts from this article as well as from our
argument made here.
obviously like your website but you need to test the spelling on quite a
few of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling issues
and I to find it very bothersome to tell the reality then again I will surely come back again.
You can definitely see your enthusiasm within the work
you write. The arena hopes for even more passionate writers such as you who are not afraid to mention how they
believe. Always follow your heart.
I’m no longer positive where you are getting your information, however great topic.
I needs to spend a while learning more or working out more.
Thank you for great info I was in search of this info for my mission.
I’ve been surfing online more than 4 hours today, yet I never found
any interesting article like yours. It is pretty worth enough
for me. In my view, if all website owners and bloggers made good content
as you did, the internet will be a lot more useful than ever before.
Hi there! This post could not be written much better! Going through this post reminds me of my previous roommate!
He always kept preaching about this. I’ll forward this information to him.
Pretty sure he’s going to have a great read. Thank you for sharing!
I loved as much as you will receive carried out right here.
The sketch is tasteful, your authored subject matter stylish.
nonetheless, you command get got an edginess over that you wish be delivering the following.
unwell unquestionably come further formerly again as exactly
the same nearly very often inside case you shield this hike.
I think the admin of this site is truly working hard
in support of his website, since here every information is
quality based information.
great post, very informative. I wonder why the other experts of this sector do not notice this.
You must continue your writing. I’m sure, you’ve a great
readers’ base already!
Since the admin of this website is working, no uncertainty very shortly it will be renowned,
due to its quality contents.
Greetings, I think your site may be having internet browser compatibility problems.
Whenever I look at your web site in Safari, it looks fine however, when opening in I.E., it has some overlapping
issues. I just wanted to provide you with a quick
heads up! Aside from that, excellent site!
Drinking hot coffee and reading your articles are such a great time. Nice to know you, IDProperti.com | Pasang Iklan Properti
Hi my family member! I wish to say that this article is awesome, great written and come with
approximately all significant infos. I’d like to peer more posts like this .
I have been surfing online more than 4 hours today,
yet I never found any interesting article like yours.
It’s pretty worth enough for me. In my opinion, if all site owners and bloggers made good content as you did,
the net will be a lot more useful than ever before.
Awesome! Its actually amazing piece of writing,
I have got much clear idea concerning from this paragraph.
Simply wish to say your article is as amazing.
The clearness for your submit is simply nice and i can assume you’re a professional in this subject.
Fine together with your permission allow me to seize your feed
to keep updated with forthcoming post. Thank you 1,000,000 and please continue the enjoyable work.
Excellent site you have here.. It’s hard to find excellent writing
like yours nowadays. I seriously appreciate
individuals like you! Take care!!