OK. So, I am trying to get out of this weary state, and I am getting awfully sad coming back to our family blog to read that I am empty & weary.... and hearing the song that Meleia says is depressing! (She may have something there, but I still really like the song.) So, I am going to tell you about something that happened on Wednesday night that really started me thinking...
It was 8:30 PM and a torrential downpour started to fall outside. I was home alone working on composing myself after a long, frustrating day and I was packing for my children to go out of town for over a week-- yes you heard that right, we get over a week to ourselves!! How wonderful is that!?? We need it!!! Thank you Lord for grandparents who will keep your children!!!
Anyway, my family was heading home from a swim party, of all places, and the bottom fell out! Well, when they got home safely, the power started flickering several times and we were preparing for the lights to go out, so Joe and I were lighting candles, and getting flashlights and such, all the while reassuring our children, who hate storms of any kind, that all would be well. Then, my son asks me, 'Mom, can we play the Wii when the lights go out?' I replied, 'No, son, if the lights are out, then the power is out and the Wii is connected to power.'
The poor child looked at me with a dumbfounded stare and asked, 'Mom, what will we do with no power and no lights? What doesn't need power? Hmmmmmm.... my Nintendo DS doesn't need power. I can play that!' I quickly told him that we can talk and laugh, play board games, play card games, tell stories, sing songs, or go to bed (now THERE'S a thought) since it was approaching 9:30 PM. There are A LOT of things you can do when the lights go out to bond as a family, that don't require power! I couldn't believe he was so awestruck at the lack of anything to do without power and lights.
You see, I was left pondering this.... why is it that our society, our children, the Enemy himself, thinks we should ALWAYS be...
- GOING somewhere
- DOING something
- PLAYING something
- WATCHING something
- SURFING something on-line
- TALKING to someone on the phone
We are so busy GOING, DOING, PLAYING, WATCHING, SURFING, or TALKING that we don't take time to just BE-- with our spouses, our children, our parents, our friends, our Heavenly Father!! If there is anything I have learned over the past few weeks of weariness, it is this- that I don't spend enough time just BEING. THAT'S HOW YOU GET TO EMPTY, my friends!!! I need to just BE with my Father. I need to just BE with my children and husband. I need to just BE with my friends. I need to just BE who He created me to BE. Whew, that will SLAP you in the face, huh? We have gotten so caught up in GOING and DOING so that we can keep up with everyone else, that we forgot how to just rest and BE! And I am guilty here just as much or more so than anyone else!!! Trust me on this one!!
In Spain, TODAY in the year 2008, they rarely use lights in a family home. They only use them in emergencies. I learned this fact this week! Interesting!! So, they must have figured out that there are things you can do as a family with no lights after dark.
So, I ask you this, what can you do this week to just BE? What would your family do with no power for 1 day and 1 night? What would you do to pass the time and bond? I am hoping to hear from you my friends....
I love you all dearly and I so treasure your prayers for me this week!! You are blessings in our lives and we couldn't live without you!!
Love,
Cyndi