Dear Sadie,
I have to add to yesterday’s letter. I want to make sure you know that being present with your kids does not always mean that you never say no when they ask you to play, or things of that nature. And don't let yourself be driven by guilt. You will always come up empty. (Your heart has to be in it. It should be in everything that you do, as easy as it is for me to say that.) It simply means being able to stop what you are doing long enough to listen. Listen to God. Listen to your kids. Listen to your heart. And follow in peace. That might mean stopping the dishes to play. It might mean getting down on your knees, looking your daughter in the eyes to say, “Honey, you know Mommy wants to play with you. Let's be thankful that we just had a good 30 minutes of playing with the pet shop together. Now Mommy needs to…” Or it might mean you need to pause and talk to God if you are not at peace with any of it, and you feel frazzled and pulled in too many different directions. Let Him flood you with His peace right in that moment, then act on what He tells you. Remember that you cannot make a law out of any of it. It takes being in a relationship with the Holy Spirit, and sensitive to His heart’s desire to know which steps to take. In big decisions in life, and in the small and seemingly unimportant ones. Employ the peace and presence of God in your life and you will move freely and joyfully through circumstances that otherwise might not render a tranquility of heart.
Love,
Mommy
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present you requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7
I have to add to yesterday’s letter. I want to make sure you know that being present with your kids does not always mean that you never say no when they ask you to play, or things of that nature. And don't let yourself be driven by guilt. You will always come up empty. (Your heart has to be in it. It should be in everything that you do, as easy as it is for me to say that.) It simply means being able to stop what you are doing long enough to listen. Listen to God. Listen to your kids. Listen to your heart. And follow in peace. That might mean stopping the dishes to play. It might mean getting down on your knees, looking your daughter in the eyes to say, “Honey, you know Mommy wants to play with you. Let's be thankful that we just had a good 30 minutes of playing with the pet shop together. Now Mommy needs to…” Or it might mean you need to pause and talk to God if you are not at peace with any of it, and you feel frazzled and pulled in too many different directions. Let Him flood you with His peace right in that moment, then act on what He tells you. Remember that you cannot make a law out of any of it. It takes being in a relationship with the Holy Spirit, and sensitive to His heart’s desire to know which steps to take. In big decisions in life, and in the small and seemingly unimportant ones. Employ the peace and presence of God in your life and you will move freely and joyfully through circumstances that otherwise might not render a tranquility of heart.
Love,
Mommy
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present you requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7
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