So I was reading this great post recently about another mother; she went a year without having a quiet time (aka devotional, quality, alone time with God). Not surprisingly it was the same year she had twins. And from the first sentence I thought, “Oh, yes, jackpot!” Because that is exactly how I feel.
Very rarely do I have a “quiet” time. But I have a “loud” time on a daily basis! Loudly singing along to the praise music while my boys beat the drums; loudly marching to and from the laundry room; loudly herding boys back to their seats for meals and grace; loudly wrestling, loving, tugging, parenting. Loud times are my times with God these days. And they are often better than my quiet times ever were.
Even when I have the rare quiet reprieve (driving to and from work, sitting at the hairdresser, um, that’s all I can think of) those moments lack the raw, intimate immediacy of yelling, “HA-LE-LOO-JAH!” alongside my boys as they jump and jive to their favorite chorus.
And I have found that God speaks loudly back. Because I am learning things alongside my kids that may have taken a lot longer to grasp in a quiet time. For example, what is heaven like, really?
“Where’s your mom, mama?”
“My mom died, honey”
“What’s dead mean, mama?”
Uh, hello panic? Yea, you – how much is too much when you are talking to a four-year-old about life and death? And how to talk about heaven without getting into a cheese-fest about puffy white clouds and angel wings?
“Honey, my mom got really sick and even though they gave her medicine it didn’t make her better. Then she died. But you know what? Jesus promises us that when we die he is waiting to meet us. He told his best friends that his dad has a really big house with lots and lots of rooms and fun stuff to do. And when you die you get to be with him, at his dad’s house. What’s your favorite thing to do, honey?”
“I like tractors.”
“Then I bet Jesus will have something as awesome as a great, big tractor waiting for you one day.”
“And balls, I like to kick balls.”
“I think he would love to play soccer with you.”
“But mama, I don’t like beans.”
“Ok, honey. Both me and Jesus know that. Jackson doesn’t like beans.”
“I don’t like beans a LOT, mama”
Loud is the new quiet in our house.
Such truth in this… the panic we feel when the children ask the big questions, as the simplicity with which they accept and understand. Thanks for sharing this!
Yes, it takes the whole concept of having “faith like a little child” to a whole different level.
I came over from your link at Elizabeth Esther’s and found myself reading more than just your linked post! I like the way you put things. I’m a Michigan girl, so I was interested to see that you did stop off here for a bit. I look forward to reading more.
Thanks and I am thrilled to bump into another Michigander online! We lived in tiny Owosso – inbetween Flint and East Lansing – and loved every minute of our farm country, cornfields, big John Deere Combine experience there. My second son was born there, so it will always be a special place for us!
I love this post! So true and so fantastically worded :-) glad you found me online – nice to “meet” you! :-)
Right back atcha! Your post on “measuring sticks” was so spot on – it moved me to write something in the same vein. Expect a ping back!
AMEN! (If you didn’t guess, I said that loudly.)
Thank you for writing that. I needed it. I have to agree with you. I hardly ever have a quiet time. The loud times with my family are the best!
They say it’s “just for a season” – but it’s the loudest season I’ve ever been through!
Thanks for sharing. I love this. It’s what I deal with as a single mom raising a special needs child while working a 9-5 job outside the home. I just had a conversation with God the other day (well, more like me telling Him) that I may not have been spending quiet time with Him lately but He is always on my mind the whole day.
Gosh, you are one of my heros! Parenting and working full time is a hard hard job. And I think God knows that and spends time with us between legos and left over dishes. And thank goodness for His gentle grace with us during these crazy years.