One of our kids came home wanting to talk about a situation, but if you're like us, walking through the door is probably one of the most impossible times to sit down for a conversation. Car keys flying, mail everywhere, refrigerator and cabinet doors pounding open and shut between ravenous boys...not the best time for a one on one.
"Mom..."
I heard the voice, but didn't listen.
"MOM."
I knew that one. The different one. The voice that says "I really need you and would you please stop and listen."
How often do we do it though? How often do we respond with a, "Hey, okay - give me a minute and I'll be right there" while we shovel on with a thousand different things.
I'll never forget a story a friend of mine from Texas told. She went on about how it was a thousand degrees outside and her girls kept running in and out of the house. It was driving her mad as she worked on getting dinner ready, until one of her daughters ran in behind her, pulling her shirt. "Mommy", she repeated as her mom busied herself with ingredients. "Mommy, look!"
Completely annoyed, her mom spun around snapping, "WHAT?" only to find a bewildered little girl standing alone with flowers she had picked for her in the yard.
It's hard. Sometimes impossible to juggle everyday life but I strongly believe if we not only hear, but try our best to listen...it makes a difference.
Even the smallest things that might seem insignificant to us, can be overwhelmingly difficult for a child.
Kind of like the buffalo and the butterfly. A tiny pebble isn't noticed on the back of a buffalo. He doesn't begin to feel it's there...but put that same pebble on the wing of a butterfly and the same does not apply.
In this hurriedly, overwhelmingly busy thing called life, it's important to make the time to stop and listen. Pay attention and appreciate the ones you love. You never know when there might be someone standing behind you, with a thought, a concern...or simply holding the flowers they've picked...just for you.
"Mom..."
I heard the voice, but didn't listen.
"MOM."
I knew that one. The different one. The voice that says "I really need you and would you please stop and listen."
How often do we do it though? How often do we respond with a, "Hey, okay - give me a minute and I'll be right there" while we shovel on with a thousand different things.
I'll never forget a story a friend of mine from Texas told. She went on about how it was a thousand degrees outside and her girls kept running in and out of the house. It was driving her mad as she worked on getting dinner ready, until one of her daughters ran in behind her, pulling her shirt. "Mommy", she repeated as her mom busied herself with ingredients. "Mommy, look!"
Completely annoyed, her mom spun around snapping, "WHAT?" only to find a bewildered little girl standing alone with flowers she had picked for her in the yard.
It's hard. Sometimes impossible to juggle everyday life but I strongly believe if we not only hear, but try our best to listen...it makes a difference.
Even the smallest things that might seem insignificant to us, can be overwhelmingly difficult for a child.
Kind of like the buffalo and the butterfly. A tiny pebble isn't noticed on the back of a buffalo. He doesn't begin to feel it's there...but put that same pebble on the wing of a butterfly and the same does not apply.
In this hurriedly, overwhelmingly busy thing called life, it's important to make the time to stop and listen. Pay attention and appreciate the ones you love. You never know when there might be someone standing behind you, with a thought, a concern...or simply holding the flowers they've picked...just for you.
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