There’s so much to do in the course of a day.
Always.
Stories to read, lessons to teach, dishes to wash, clothes to fold, floors to sweep, babies to rock, conversations to have, hugs to give, encouraging texts to send, drawings to swoon over. The list goes on and on– and makes me glad, actually, that I am not a list-maker. Because … no. Seeing it all written down would be just that much too discouraging as I stare down the day.
In the midst of all of that busy, all of that life, my favorite part:
Rest.
Quiet.
Reflection.
A few moments stolen to simply look around and drink in the blessing that is family life.
Yes, it is messy. Yes, it can be loud. Yes, there are hurt feelings and iron sharpening iron and discipleship opportunities that leave you drained.
But at the same time, there is a kind of unique beauty in the happenings of a family. There are happy giggles, and quiet determination, and arms that wrap around your neck and pronounce you the best Momma who has ever taken on the task of singing a duet with a four year-old. There are silent little seconds when you study a child and witness the unfolding of their character as they master something new. There are chances to eavesdrop on the imaginings of a six year-old and smile as he replays some mundane aspect of life with Legos and long-necked giraffes he cut out of paper. There are peeks on sleeping two year-olds, and the comfort of your 14 year-old leaning back on your knees as he reads Beowulf, again.
Family life is a tapestry of spirit and emotion, whether your family is a husband and wife doing the days together, a single mom and her brood, a cloister welcoming baby number two, or a sprawling herd totaling twelve. There’s no minimum or maximum on the numbers when family is involved. It just is.
So take a moment today to pause and drink in the moments that make the laundry piles, the sticky counters, the “did he forget to put the trash out again?” worth it. Look for the beauty. You’ll find it. Guaranteed.