Second Chances
It seems that here in the nest we're in perpetual motion, flitting and floating from one activity to the next. Today I've done three loads of laundry, cleaned the main floor, showered (a minor miracle), walked the pooch, ran the garbage back and forth to the curb, taught lessons for both of the girls, pretended to be nice to our persnickety neighbor, scheduled all of the appointments for the next two weeks, checked the voicemail (a major miracle) and driven to dance. As I handed Little Bit a snack and glanced up at the monitor where Miss Leggy was completing a quad turn (for those of us less versed in dance terminology that is four complete revolutions in a row) it hit me...I'd forgotten the dance clothing I'd purchased to donate. Leotards, tights, ballet shoes, and hair accessories all sitting in neat bundles in my abyss of a closet. Gear I said I'd bring today to help with an after school inner-city dance program put together by one amazing member of our studio.
These bundles are important. How had I forgotten them? We've been praying for the little girls who will be receiving what the chicks and I have been in the process of putting together for the last few weeks. We'd taken care to pick out colors we thought they'd like, hair pins and bands that might match their tresses. I was trying to teach my charges to be intentional in their giving because we are so abundantly blessed. They understood the lesson, were joyous in giving, prayerful in outreach. Now, on the day I said I would deliver the package, it was sitting forgotten in the closet near the last load of laundry I had for the day. I felt like a failure.
As I set my head in my hands, surrounded by the chaos of the studio, I realized there was a new lesson to be gleaned by our trio...being intentional is a process that requires follow through. Not only did I need to model the giving, the preparation, the prayer, but the completion of the task. Not becoming so busy with the day-to-day that I forgot the small moments that mean even more. Learning to let myself off the hook from all the "necessary" business long enough to breath. I need to show the chickadees that even though crossing the regular off the list is compelling, full completion is more rewarding.
I just asked in the studio office and was told that I have until tomorrow to deliver. I won't be early, but I will be on time. SIGH. I don't think I'll share this part of the story with the chicks; they are unaware of the battle I've fought with myself for the last hour. When Miss Leggy is done with class a new plan is in place. We aren't headed home to change, practice piano, and make dinner, which was the course of action. Sure, all those things will get done, but first? First, we'll grab our packages and place them with care in the car for tomorrow. We'll pause, thankful for what we have, the ability we've been given to share, and that our God allows us to continually learn.
These bundles are important. How had I forgotten them? We've been praying for the little girls who will be receiving what the chicks and I have been in the process of putting together for the last few weeks. We'd taken care to pick out colors we thought they'd like, hair pins and bands that might match their tresses. I was trying to teach my charges to be intentional in their giving because we are so abundantly blessed. They understood the lesson, were joyous in giving, prayerful in outreach. Now, on the day I said I would deliver the package, it was sitting forgotten in the closet near the last load of laundry I had for the day. I felt like a failure.
As I set my head in my hands, surrounded by the chaos of the studio, I realized there was a new lesson to be gleaned by our trio...being intentional is a process that requires follow through. Not only did I need to model the giving, the preparation, the prayer, but the completion of the task. Not becoming so busy with the day-to-day that I forgot the small moments that mean even more. Learning to let myself off the hook from all the "necessary" business long enough to breath. I need to show the chickadees that even though crossing the regular off the list is compelling, full completion is more rewarding.
I just asked in the studio office and was told that I have until tomorrow to deliver. I won't be early, but I will be on time. SIGH. I don't think I'll share this part of the story with the chicks; they are unaware of the battle I've fought with myself for the last hour. When Miss Leggy is done with class a new plan is in place. We aren't headed home to change, practice piano, and make dinner, which was the course of action. Sure, all those things will get done, but first? First, we'll grab our packages and place them with care in the car for tomorrow. We'll pause, thankful for what we have, the ability we've been given to share, and that our God allows us to continually learn.
This is exactly why I chose "hands and feet" as my focus for Lent. You let "busyness" get in your way... I let tiredness get in mine. That package I mailed to you today? It's been in process for two weeks. Because I have the ideas, I have the items, I have the intention... but the extra effort of follow through trips me up. I have stationery printed out to write a kajillion thank you notes on for people and my mind knows what I want to say, but my energy lets me think... I'll get that finished tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteBut people are important today. It's always a fine line, isn't it? The follow through you have down pat, though, is that you're doing so much more than teaching your girls to give. You are teaching them intention and that's a beautiful gift.
Thanks, Sara. I let energy get in my way too. When you couple it with busyness it tends to take on a life of it's own :) My mom told me a few years ago that people were more important than things, and I've worked on putting it into practice, little by little. Thanks for the encouragement.
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