“Play with me Mommy.” The words bounce back and forth in my head. I look at my “To Do” list. I have more things on it than I have time to complete in one day. I still need to finish up some things from yesterday too. I’m starting to feel overwhelmed. I push it aside and make some excuse for why I can’t play right now. I continue working. A little while later I hear it again, “Play with us Mom.” This time it is coming from a different child. Now I feel guilty. I want to stop and take a break, but making a train track or building legos isn’t my idea of fun. All I can think about is how much work I have to do. “What do you want to play?” I ask. “Hide-and-seek,” my son replies. I force out an un-enthusiastic, “OK.” I stop what I am doing and play.
I try to be understanding when they dump out all the dirty clothes in the hamper to hide inside. “Great hiding spot,” I say. But inside I’m screaming. Have you ever had days like that?
This summer I’ve tried to play more with my kids. Whether it is blowing bubbles, drawing pictures with sidewalk chalk, riding bikes or playing in the sandbox, I’ve tried to keep my four kids occupied while school is out. I love seeing their smiling faces as they gobble up the 3rd (or 4th?) batch of Rice Krispie treats and cheerfully ask me to make more. I love watching my daughter’s excitement as she catches lightning bugs (fire flies) by herself without any help. “Mommy, I caught another one.” “That’s great,” I say. “You are getting good at this.”
My boys tried to teach me how to play video games on the Wii. I’m not very good. I have no idea what I am doing. “Press this, hold that, turn this.” So confusing! I think they gave up on me. We’ve gotten pretty competitive playing “H.O.R.S.E.” basketball. Every time you miss a shot, you get another letter until it spells out HORSE or PIG or whatever you come up with. You can get really creative with names. Recently my favorite activity is playing badminton. My oldest son is very athletic. He likes to find activities we can play together without the little ones interfering. He likes my undivided attention. Tonight we kept the birdie in the air 78 times — our all time record! We are shooting for 100!
Big smiles, lots of giggles, hugs and kisses — those are the gifts our children give us. It is God’s way of reminding us how truly blessed we are.
Everyday for the last several weeks my littlest guy, now 4, draws a picture for Daddy and hides it under his pillow. He beams and giggles with delight when Daddy discovers his priceless artwork. Daddy proudly displays each picture on the wall beside our bed. Each morning our son draws a new picture. He’s not good at drawing yet. Everything looks like a circle. “What is it?” Daddy asks. “It’s a tractor, or a train, or a car,” he says. You have to use your imagination to see it. It mostly looks like circles — but in different colors. He is so proud. Daddy gives him a big hug and kiss. My son wraps his little arms around his neck and says, “I love you Daddy.” We both smile.
It is in these small, unassuming moments when everyday encounters develop into a lifetime of memories. My kids do not care whether the dishes are done or the laundry is folded. But they do care that we listen, spend time with them and play.
I may not have gotten everything done I needed to today. But it does remind me that there are more important things in life than just doing work. My kids need me. I may not always do everything right as a parent, but I sure do love my kids and want the very best for them. Even though playing is not something that comes naturally to me, I’m learning to stop and have fun. There will always be household chores and items to cross off my “To Do” list. But my kids will not always be little.
God, please help me to enjoy today. Help me to discern what is important and what can wait. Give me patience to overlook small offenses and focus on time well spent. Teach me how to play.
The Bible for Today:
Turn your distractions into opportunities.
“Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity…. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” (Ephesians 5:15-17)
Let go of your agenda. What you think is important, may not be important at all.
“Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” (Proverbs 19:21)
Stop and take a break. Learn when to be quiet and when to wait.
“In repentance and rest is my salvation, in quietness and trust is my strength.” (Isaiah 30:15)
Our kids will not always be little. We need to stop looking so far into the future that we miss today.
“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)
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