When Children Slow You Down

I've written about a gift that the Lord has given me over the past year--the gift of quietness. 

Another gift has come to me--a lesson--the lesson of slowing down. 

Before I had my babies, I loved to exercise--I walked and walked briskly through the New England neighborhood by the sea where I lived. I was consistent as a good clock--walking almost every day for years for a specified amount of time most days of the week even through snow and rain. When I didn't walk outside, I used my trusty treadmill--a hand-me-down from my great uncle. It was gloriously loud, but it served its purpose and kept me walking.  

Then, when my babies came, everything began to slow down for me. Even my walking. Oh, I still walked, but I adapted a more gentle pace to accommodate my children. 

One time, a neighbor (who also walked for exercise) passed by me with my carriage and commented quickly, "You used to walk so fast!" 

It was true. 

But the Lord was beginning to teach me a lesson, slowly at first, then with more intensity as the years have been passing. 

The lesson of slowing down. 

I have a personality that wants to get things done, cross things off a list; I love order and rhythm. 

The Lord is teaching my heart a new rhythm--the way that He wants me to walk with my children. 

And I have sensed Him admonishing me over and over again--slow down. 

Life is not a list of things that need to get done, (even though it is important to be organized and orderly)-- 

Life is a moment by moment opportunity to live the Gospel --

For me, the primary way that I do that right now is in raising my children--

Not to be bright or outgoing or witty or popular, but to know Jesus deeply, to be willing to suffer persecution for His sake, to count the cost in following Him whatever that will mean for them. 

And every moment is an opportunity--no matter how tired or weary or overwhelmed I may be-

Every moment. 

Their souls are precious.

And I need to take time to look at their tiny faces and to love their teachable hearts and do all that I can in the strength that God provides to love them and to nurture them and to lead them to the Lamb of Truth.

Children are not an "add-on," or a number, or a burden--

They are an unfathomable blessing--each one an opportunity--a soul to brighten the face of Heaven and to bring glory to God.

Children are a Treasure from the Lord, a precious gift.

Slow down, look into their faces, talk to them, relate everything to the Savior, plant truth and grace in their hearts . . . and it will grow. 

That is more important than the things that we think are so important. 

When we cook, when we clean, when we sing, when we read, when we play, when we pray--slow down--the joy that comes is indescribable--

And much more gratifying than merely crossing tasks off a list.

Does this mean that I may never walk "fast" again? Of course not--

And lists and order and organization are all blessings from His hand. 

The lesson for me was in slowing down to meet the needs of my little ones, to meet their needs first before my own, and sometimes that means laying aside my "list" or my plan or what I think needs to be accomplished. 

To love them. To spend time with them. To touch their tiny faces and to take their tiny hands--

To walk slowly with them--to let the others things go, for a moment, for a season--

He let the little children come . . . He was not too busy, too rushed--He who had the pressing needs of so many continually before Him. 

He let them come; may we, also--

For of such is the kingdom of Heaven.    

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