Sacred Ground Ministries

If there’s anything I have learned about myself during this sometimes delightful and often frustrating quarantine season, it is that I am always looking ahead. I’m sure somewhere I’ve always known this. God is gracious with revealing our faults to us.

At any given point on my Notes app I have to-do lists, crafting projects, gardening projects, writing ideas and wish lists. That can sometimes be as exhausting as it sounds.

Over the last few weeks I’ve begun a little experiment of sorts with myself. With the increased mobility of August and accompanying messes, I decided to wait until nap time to tidy up around the house. Normally I would scurry about after every little basket was emptied of its contents, restoring each corner of the living room world to it’s pre-baby invasion. The experiment was a simple one: could I look at the disorder and instead of seeing something that was wrong, express gratitude?

While I naturally thrive off of order and routine (I’m not totally giving up on these ideals quite yet), working on appreciating the messes made in the morning hours by tiny hands and feet as instruments of God’s grace in my life has taught me about being rooted in the here and now.

Grateful for the here and now.

Fully engaged in the here and now.

The year 2020 and who knows for how many years after that are the years of tumbled wooden blocks across the floor, strewn about board books, and half-eaten miniature bowls of blueberries.

If I’m not careful, I find myself looking longingly at the old, sweet couple across the street, reading their newspapers, sipping coffee, and chatting about the day. What I must remember, of course, is that they are in the fall of their lives, I in the summer.

And, oh, how beautiful summer is!

What a gift is has been to be gently reminded of summer’s blessedness by The Father. I can say with certainty that I will always be in need of parenting. Jesus says of the children that to such belong the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 19:14). What could be more childlike than being grateful and in the moment, patient for the hand of your father or mother to come guide you at the right time to the next.