#mondaymotivation

the sound of rushing water off in the distance

the view of newly naked trees and exposed nests built with mastery

the intense reds, yellows, orange - even brown

***

Monday mornings I have a gift of free mornings. It's quite a challenge to keep the mornings free. In my mind it's an extra 4 hours that are easily filled up with the "need to do" things. 

But the last few Mondays I have held firm. Free to be - alone in the woods with my dog. I take deep breaths of fresh air; I listen to the singing birds, the krinkle of fallen leaves beneath my feet, the rushing water.  I think, I pray, I ponder. I hug my dog. 

As I type this, there is a twinge of guilt. It feels so luxurious to take an hour or two once a week of freedom. Then there is the other side of the coin of guilt - there are so many things I should be doing. 

Stop.

What does God want for me?

God wants my time. God wants my heart. God wants my happiness.

Two hours a week of time devoted to just be with him in His creation - there should not be and will not be any guilt. 

This is not a commitment to myself. This is a commitment to Jesus. I will be with you for two hours on Mondays - free unstructured time.  

This is my #mondaymotivation. What is yours?

The Spiritual Life of Parenting - Episode 35

Car talk. On becoming.

That's where Gracie has her deep thoughts.

It's where I get the privilege of hearing the inner musings of her heart and soul. And when I say privilege, I mean it. As she gets older, I don't always get the candidness that I did when she was younger. Being privy to her inmost thoughts is a window into her spiritual life. 

We were talking about adoration and imitation that happens in friendship.

V: This relationship is similar to you and your cousin. She wants to BE you! 

(I said this tongue and cheek, I generally speak in hyperbole)

G: Wait, isn't it a sin to want to be someone else. You need to be who God wants you to be not someone else.

Mic drop.

***

So much of life is spent searching for meaning. So much of parenting is helping our children become who they are called to be. 

Who are they called to be?

This is an easy question to get all uptight about.  I can feel the anxiety mounting. She needs to be successful, she needs to be able to afford to live, she needs to get a good job, she needs to be happy with her choices.

My child has a calling.  I have no idea what that calling is.  My vocation is to ensure that she knows she has been dedicated as a Child of God. That means that sometimes my love for her needs to be ferocious - my child is precious child of God and no one will compromise that. Sometimes it means I need to be ferocious with her, you are a precious child of God and that behavior does not mirror your giftedness. 

Sometimes, most of the time, it's patience and gentleness that are needed as I watch the Child of God that is Gracie unfold. 

***

As parents our job is create fertile soil in our children so that they can grow into who God is calling them to be - so that they can, as Catherine of Siena put it, be who God called them to be to be so they can set the world on fire!

Spiritual Life of Parenting - Episode 1