I have been busy living life. Do you get that way? The girls are home from college for the summer and Danielle, our oldest, is home for six weeks before her wedding. I love having the house full, a full refrigerator, and the many spontaneous conversations. They are working on furniture projects in the barn, baking, and cooking. We are training for a triathlon together. It is fun to share how our progress is coming together.
What I love the most is the everydayness of life with them being home.
Are you tired, Mom?
There are many moms out there that are tired of the everydayness of life. They are tired of all the meals, the laundry, the cleaning, the travels to sporting events and music events, or trying to organize end-of-school parties or birthday parties.
There are many epic moments, but there are so many every day moments. With my daughters all being away at college, what I miss the most is the everydayness.
Those moments are what teach them the most.
They learn when I make them their favorite meal that they are special and important to me.
They learn how to sacrifice when I sacrifice my sleep to make sure they have breakfast before leaving for the day. They learn sacrifice when I change my schedule to make sure we spend time together.
They learn how to work and get a job done by working with us on projects around the house or helping to clean up after meals.
They learn the value of intentional conversation when we sit on the kitchen floor and talk about the things that are important to them, even if it is time for me to go to bed.
I have opportunities to teach about their identity in Christ and how they gain value because of what Christ did for them when I take time to ask the right questions and really listen to their answer.
I miss the everydayness
I miss driving them to their various activities and the different memories we made along the way. The random places we would stop at and have an adventure. The spontaneous conversations. The funny observations they made when they looked out the window.
I know that the everydayness of life gets tiring when you are in the midst of it. It seems so long before you will be able to sleep in and have a leisurely Saturday morning, BUT…
When they leave and start having a life of their own and they don’t need you as much, YOU WILL MISS THE EVERYDAYNESS.
Don’t wish it away
Rather than wishing away the mundane of today, look at it as a treasure that you will never get back. Hug them more. Make them their favorite meal. Ask them questions that make them offer more than a “yes “or “no” answer.
Jesus discipled in the everydayness
There is no better way to disciple our children than in the every day. Jesus spent three years living with His disciples. They walked together. They talked together. They ate together. They fished together. They lived life together. Jesus did many amazing things that we read about in Scripture, but “there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.” (John 21:25). Jesus taught His disciples in the epic moments. He also taught them in the everydayness of life.
“Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9). I am now enjoying the benefits of the “not giving up.” The truth of the matter is, we must never give up. As I look at the next decades to come, relationship with my daughters will look different, but if it is to continue, I must not give up.
So celebrate the everydayness of life. Enjoy every minute. Look for ways to teach your children in the everydayness. As you lay in bed and reflect on your day, you will be happy that you enjoyed the day and took the time to teach your children in the everydayness of life.
The everydayness of my life is beckoning me and I need to go make my daughters a rhubarb pie. It’s one of the things that makes them feel special.
