In the Sittings

A lot of my writings are about the “doings” part of ministry. Encouraging the believers to be the hands and feet that spread the good news of Jesus. To be passionate about serving, committing, helping, and reflecting the light of Jesus. Today, I remind us, that none of these doings are even possible if we are missing the sittings.

I love my sons with everything that I have. I’ve committed to being their mama through it all. I love to serve them- even to the point where my husband tells me, “you’re doing too much for them!” I understand what He is saying, and know he is right, but serving them brings me joy. I love jumping out of bed on pancake Saturday’s to make them fluffy cakes, even when I would rather sleep in. I clean their laundry, teach them school, make them food, which seems endless as growing boys are always hungry! I pack their lunch for science school, take them on field trips, make sure they know how loved they are, and even more by Jesus. I study how to be a good mom to boys, reading articles and finding scary statistics that if you do it all wrong….just be warned. I serve, I commit, I help and I do the mom things, but what is the point of all these doings if I miss out on the sitting with them. What is the point if I fail to listen to them, to talk to them, to ask them how their day was and what is on their minds. What is the point of all the serving if I never spoke to them or took time to just be with them.   

Sitting in the ski lodge last month, a homeschool mom of older boys reminded me that if you have boys, listen when they want to talk to you, even if it’s 11 o’clock at night, (t is never a coincidence how God prepares us for things ahead). Shortly following that conversation, my Oliver decided that after I tuck him in, say prayers, tuck him in again with ten extra kisses, and finally turn off the light- that is the time to talk. “Hey mom…ummmm..so how does this work, and why does this happen and can you do this?” Questions start beaming out of him, like the light switch is an open door to conversation time. I love nights, after I tuck the kids in. It is almost sacred to me. Tuck them in and then it’s my time, but didn’t’ God prepare me for this, “listen, even if it’s 11 o’clock at night.” So, nighttime conversations have become a thing, even when I’m tired and ready for bed. The conversations have been so wonderful that even George, our oldest, will come plop on Oliver’s bed to join in from time to time. This is not the first time that I have talked to our boys before bed, but there is something special that the questions and conversations are bringing in this specific time, that are producing such rich fruit in our relationship. 

I can do things for my children all day long, but the treasure is in the sitting places, the quiet times, the place of relationship that holds the most weight and the most importance. This week, in my busyness of the early morning, I heard God’s voice, “it’s been a while.” I’ve been having months of serving, helping, mission trips, and worship leading, but my sitting with Jesus has been more sparce. I thought about my boys and the time of the sitting, and I thought, if all I do is serve you, I am missing the treasure of being with You, my Jesus. God reminded me how I once walked in a field across from our house, and I would tell Dan, “I’m going on a walk with Jesus.” I would dance through that field and act like I was holding His hand. It was some of my best times with Him. Some nights, after my sitting time with the boys, I like to find a spot on the floor, and just sit with Jesus, not talking or asking…just sitting.

God, in His faithfulness, is reminding us to sit with Him again this week. To walk and talk with Him and remember we are His own. As we spend time with Him, our fruit will be richer, brighter, and our vines will be healthy and strong. He is always calling us in; close to His heart. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Let us tarry with Him this week, even in our busyness, or when it’s 11 o’clock at night.