But we pushed forward with our meeting. Dave asked who had stuff going on this week. He mentioned in a joking voice that he didn’t think we had anything going on at all on Wednesday. At that moment Lucy sat straight up tall with the biggest smile spread across her face.
“Hmmmmm…” he said in mock contemplation, “it seems like maybe there is something…” to which Lucy pointed her index finger right at her cute little face and her eyes sparkled more than ever.
“Oh yes! Is it someone’s birthday party that day??” Dave’s mock surprise made her smile even bigger.
Everyone’s stresses melted away and Grace mentioned that she had never seen anything quite so cute in her whole life, and that was it:
That was my “eye” moment because everything stopped and the smiles were in slow-motion. Who cares about the oily stains or the busy-work or the Sunday shoes still un-found. We have a family.
And it’s a good one.
Sure, we have all kinds of imperfections. We fight, we get grumpy, we have a growing problem with kids speaking unkindly to each other that we’re working on, and we are late to 1:00 church almost every Sunday.
But we have each other. And we adore each other. And isn’t that all that really matters in the long-run?
The conversation ensued discussing the details of Lucy’s party and Grace and Claire had some debate about who was going to be in charge of what, and then the traditional scramble started: children scrambling to find shoes, me rounding up my last-minute visual aides, Dave in the car honking, no brushes to be found.
But something was different.
There was love in the air.
And I guess the key is finding ways to help that love linger more thickly there or even just noticing it more because it is there. Sometimes it’s just hidden behind a scowl or whine or two.
And that love is what gives me my “eye” moments.
I sure love those things.
24 comments
Thank you so much for sharing. I had a rough day as a mother and this helped me see the precious moments, the moments where love was abiding, and push out the moments of anger and frustration.
Lucy's birthday already? We still haven't heard about Elle's birthday!
Will you share how exactly you are working on kind words amongst siblings. Its a huge problem at my house, too. And I'm desperate.
thanks you for sharing that.. we all need to remember this!
Absolutely love this. You have such inspiring perspective-it pushes me towards finding those moments in my family's own chaos. Thank you!
Beautiful post. There are plenty of hurricanes at our house but lots of "eye" moments, too. Thanks for the reminder.
I would also love to know what you are doing to squelch the 'mean mouthing' as it is called in our home.It is such a difficult task for me to take on…don't know where to start…we try to model polite, kind speaking and be patient when it doesn't go well, but sometimes we lose our tempers and the nasty voices come out!
I soooo needed this tonight after a wing dinger of a night over here. Thank you.
Shawni, you have such a beautiful way with words. I love that you discovered that the love IS there, just a little hidden behind the whining & teasing. I sure need to remember this when I get discouraged during the times my girls don't treat each other the way I always envisioned. Thank you for the perspective!
We are, no joke, always late to church. It's at 1 o clock too and gosh dang it, no matter how early I start getting ready…we are always late or JUSTBARELY on time. I am convinced it's my husbands fault 😉
Thank you for this! After a rough week of new to me parenting challenges this is exactly what I needed as a reminder to Be Still, don't worry about the small stuff and find the rainbows. Thank you.
I so sympathize on the speaking unkindly thing. We have 2 13 year old girls (triplets) who are pros at it now. We spent an hour of our homeschool day (while their triplet brother did his own thing, grateful for being a boy) trying to be able to see the other's point of view and see our own actions as also incorrect. It was exhausting!
I love this post, it reminds me of this video of a typical Sunday morning. So funny!
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151817184744914
I needed this today. You put thoughts into words so beautifully!
You may have already tried this for the oily stains, but dish soap (like dawn) has taken lots of oily stains out of my kids' clothes – even after going through the washer and dryer a few times. I put it right on the stains add a little water and scrub – then toss it in the washer in at least warm water.
Thanks for sharing your "eye" moments. This last FHE was on contention and not noticing the beam in someone else's eye with our kids ages, 14 down to 5. It's gone better. We're late almost every week and I can not wait for a later church time in January as Primary president and mom.
Btw, maybe you've tried it, but I use Shout advanced stains for all our oil stains and it gets it out every time.
Love your Lucy and the post about her. She reminds me of my youngest who deals with Type 1 diabetes. (We have the same- oldest a boy and 4 girls, trailing.) It is so important when we can see the perspective that our Father in Heaven would see.
Try eucalyptus oil spray (we have it here in Australia) for grease stains – works a treat:)
Susanna
Now that's keeping it real. I like.
Lovelovelovelovelove this!
beautiful
That was a beautiful post. Thankyou so so much for sharing those moments!
Loved this! I/m going too look for more "eye" moments now, that's for sure!
Awesome!
Love this post!