Parenting is hands on.
Many other hands. On you.
Washing dishes while dodging grabs and lunges at your knees is not easy. Cooking with child on hip is tricky juggling of the highest order. Navigating obstacle courses of toys en route to the fridge and bottle of morning milk at 4.30 am could be an Olympic sport. Chubby hands cradling your cheeks, wet lips offering kisses, dimpled feet tripping over you at every turn of the grocery cart.
Hands, feet, lips, fingers, and toes on.
My memories of my mom are rarely sad, they are mostly just frozen in time from a child’s perspective. I often wondered why she would want to lock herself away with a book on a Saturday afternoon. Now, as a mom myself, I don’t wonder. I understand.
There was a church family camp we went to for many years of my childhood called CYARA (pronounced with a K and not a soft C). It stood for “Come Ye Apart and Rest Awhile.” I gave the name very little thought. If any, I wondered what we were supposed to be resting from. Life was good and full and rich – camp was simply one more dimension. I didn’t go to rest, I went to explore, flirt, laugh, swim, and revel in the comfort of friendships I’d had for as long as I could remember.
This past week has been rest-less.
Full of the needs and demands of others. Not only my kids. And I thought about CYARA and I looked up the verse:
“Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6:31.
Between commissioning his disciples, receiving news that his cousin John the Baptist had been killed, and feeding a crowd of 5,000 Jesus looked around at his weary crew and said, “Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while” (King James version).
Because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat.
That’s me. At the dining room table managing a mouthful here and there between cutting someone’s food and pouring milk into the green cup and not the red one for someone else. Most of a mom’s meals are lukewarm at best. And that’s ok in the dining room. It’s expected.
But what about when my time spent eating more important meals is missed due to my busy-ness. When the Word is waiting for me, getting cold because I am caught between this and that, and then something else. My heart will go hungry. Ann Voskamp, farmer’s wife, describes the meal like this:
I need that.
I need to need that.
So, I take His hand and follow him into His kitchen and watch as He makes me comfort food. I read and remember that He sees me. He hears me ache and leads me into His time out. To His table.
And suddenly I remember just how hungry I am.
Wow! Another powerful post…and I can absolutely relate. Sometimes I wonder if I will ever eat my food hot again. :) My friend with five children says, “Sometimes I feel like I have springs on my seat.”
What a beautiful metaphor to our need for God’s word! Thank you for the reminder to feast from His table. The one that satiates my hunger. Love you, friend.
I’m honored, Nicole, to have you on my comment role! And really, this post is a reminder for me more than anyone, to eat the right stuff on a regular basis! Love you right back.
Wait… soooo… it’s not just me? hahaha. Sometimes I wonder why I even have a chair. What’s the point? Sometimes I feel like I’ll never get to eat a meal hot, or go to the bathroom by myself, or read my bible without falling asleep (that’s if I ever DID read my bible).
The thing that keeps me going, that keeps me hungering, is that God finds me anyway, amidst all the craziness, the business, the noise, and speaks to my soul, despite my lack of effort. Humbling. Encouraging. He feeds me anyway, even when I can’t seem to come to the table. God is so good.
So true! He is so generous and prepares a table for us -wherever we are.
Your posts are just so amazingly beautiful.
I needed to read this tonight. I was having one of those days. Exhausted from dodging the little hands, so much so that I didn’t pick up tonight. I’m too tired.
But now I know; I NEED to look at the important things, take time to see what’s really going on.
Thank you for being so inspiring, day after day.
Thank you. But truth be told, I am just as tired and my house just as messy. And I need the reminder – which is why i wrote it down in this post – to find time for my Bible because I so constantly forget. I am glad we can encourage one another. Because hearing from you all that it’s a challenge helps remind me that I’m not the only one.
I’m always amazed by God’s wisdom…He commanded us to take a “break.” One of the 10 commandments is to obey the Sabbath…
Augh, this was certainly timely for me! The past couple of weeks have been a whirlwind of crazy busy stuff for me! I agree with the previous poster on taking a weekly Sabbath…which most Christians that I know don’t even truly know how to do!
So back to your post – I think it’s another reason why memorizing a lot of Scripture is just a good idea…because there will be many times where you will not have the time nor have a Bible on hand to be spiritually rejuvenated, and so already having it in your heart will help!
“He hears me ache”… Oh to be known. Known by Him. What struck me about your words is that we normally would say that we could “see” someone aching…. but our intimate God “hears” us ache. This day, this hour, and this moment, I needed to be reminded of that simple Truth. I am so hungry too!
Jessica
Yes, exactly. And the Holy Spirit intercedes for us with “sighs deeper than words.” I need to remember that this week.
i want to want that more than i do…
I loved this post. Sometimes life just becomes overwhelming and I forget that I have a Savior who invites me to lay it all down and rest in Him.
Thank you so much for this reminder.
Stacy – I forget ALL the time! It’s good that we can remind one another.