Emile Claus
The beauty of a moment captured in sharing deep friendship–I see the life of intimate relationship in this painting.
Seeing these precious girls sitting together in a lovely outdoors, sharing hearts–it is what I love to do the best.
Sharing the deepest places and wisdom and dreams, fears, loneliness, struggles, joys is what I love best about being a mother. Since I have been home from Italy the past few days, I have had hours and hours to hear the heartbeats of my precious children–
This kind of deep relating of lives is what all of us crave and long for–to know and be known.
It is also what God wants from us–intimacy, heart sharing, love consummated in hearts bound together.
So, this week, I chose,
Carving out the time, leaving my suitcase packed, dishes on the counter, emails unanswered, texts unread,
I have made my choice, because I know choices have consequences,
And this is the best choice–focussing all of my heart, eyes, attention and love on my precious treasures that God entrusted into my hands.
not allowing the moment to slip away to the dark abyss of busyness,
or “wait for me one more minute” as they slip away, not waiting, but going on…….
or pretending to listen while having my eyes on the computer,
But these real moments of life shared deeply, live in my heart….
one on the porch in jammies, with tea in hand and blankets folded up to our knees in early morning chill of the mountains.
Another, leaning against me, knee to knee, on my small love seat, with a hand to hold and stroke, sharing life time dreams, wishes and secrets and prayers,
Another, coming to lay on my big king size bed in the dark of night just after I had climbed into bed, and talking deeply about life and all that is taking place.
A phone call, long, filled with antics, robust laughter, fears, stresses and asking for affirmation–”Do you like what I wrote?”
“Yes, I value you, your work, your efforts, your integrity. I am beyond blessed to be your mother.”
Love, deep sharing of life, stimulating thoughts in the counsel of wisdom,
the facing of deep doubts and despair of God, about a lack of answers to prayer,
this is the core of discipleship,
the deep longing and satisfaction of our souls–
to know and to be known and to trust someone with our heart and know it will be held with grace and tenderness.
This is my joy of being the best friend and most trusted counselors of my dearest children.
But the getting away to a secret place and the sharing of hearts requires a commitment of time–the putting away of all other distractions
Saying, “At this moment, you are the most important person in the whole world to me, and I adore being in your company.”
It starts on the rocking chair when you sing lovely lullabies to infants,
the cuddling and rocking and playing childish games with toddlers and whispering secrets and songs and silly stories,
The reading of sweet books, playful touch of back rubs and gentle listening to all their little hearts, in early years, will pour out at bedtime,
The quiet, “Come to my bedroom, as I have prepared you a cup of hot chocolate or cinnamon tea and a small treat and let’s be friends,”
The staying up late beyond midnight and listening and allowing teens to question, to pour out, to vent, to share insecurities with out criticism or lectures,
the sharing of life–
the pointing them to His truth, His ways, His love, in the warp and woof of life moments,
this is the essence of discipleship,
this is the secret of a blessed motherhood.
Thank you Sally for the beautiful reminder. I smile at the “after midnight” since it seems so many of the richest conversations I have with our teenagers is in that window. How sad I would be if I had missed those precious discussions – with hearts wide open- for even a bit more sleep. I appreciate your encouragement to continue to be looking for those sacred moments of connecting above the trivial which clangs so loudly. Thank you!
This is such encouragement to my heart tonight, Sally! Thank you.
I lovelovelove this idea….setting time aside for each child. My question is how did you manage to do this with 4 kids, individually and them not striving for your attention while you were spending time with the one? Thanks so much!
just adding that I know you aren’t able to respond to comments, but I am sure there are other moms who have this same question of balancing these moments…..maybe a blog post? =)
Tears falling, just so great post. It just reach my heart. Thank you Sally.
I will love my two boys whit all my heart. you are a blessing in my life! Thank you.
This is for you I wrote:
Beautiful, is something you are
Beautiful is your heart
Beautiful is that smile on your face
Beautiful is the spirtit of life
Thank you Sally.
Hello Sally,
I am Maddalena and I am writing from Italy. . . I a big fan f you and your books. . .
This post is very inspiring. . I have two little girls, almost 4 and almost 7. … It is a very hard period but I understand that this is the moment for built the future. …. theis future and our future as a family.
Cheers
Maddalena
I find it so easy to say, “just one more minute” until I look at that phrase through my daughter’s eyes and realize the eternity that happens in those minutes.
Sally!
I love you for your example.
THANK YOU for being willing to share your wisdom. Your example blesses me beyond measure and oh how God is using it to mold what happens underneath my roof.
Just lovely. This speaks to me in so many ways…about how God loves us and how those little moments can add up to a big whole. Thank you for the encouragement and for spurring us on by example!!!
Ahhh… how this blessed me this morning and cofirmed what God had just spoke to me only an hour ago about taking time to be with my teens in the fullest sense – not just physically, but with all of me (believe me, they know the difference!) Tears fell as I read through this post twice, determining to stop busyness and take advantage of times with the children, and feeling thankful for my own mother who loves me so well. Blessings Sally!
This is such a beautiful reminder. Why is it such a struggle to be present with my kids, when this is really my heart’s desire?! Thank you so much for sharing this!
Thank you for laying it out for us, Sally. As my little ones are 1, 4, and 6 years old I pray I am laying these same foundations of influence and friendship.
Absolutely! Today is all you have – embrace the moments as they happen – that’s where joy lives!
~Peace,
LuAnne
“Sharing hearts–it is what I love to do the best.”
You perfectly articulated me, Sally! I’ve struggled to put into words how much I thrive on, live for this. Lately, I’ve also struggled to find others who value it as much as I do, or even enough just to indulge me. We may all be created for relationship, but not everyone is passionate about it. Thank you for reframing it for me as a gift I have the unique capacity to give my children, rather than a quirk that makes me feel like an oddity. Also, as I contemplate my new role of mother, I’ve been focusing on ideas of training and teaching (which I do need to think and learn about), but it is encouraging to connect my passion for sharing hearts with the role of motherhood and to think that my two greatest loves (sharing hearts, and my baby. Plus God, of course, so three.) are what I get to do each day for the coming years.