I am so excited to have Adrienne of Stories from the Shoebox sharing here today. I love the word pictures she paints in her blog posts. She had been blessed with very special gifts. Her gifts are the words that she weaves and the way she makes you feel like you’ve been asked to join her on her journey through life.
After reading the post before, please take a moment to visit her blog.
When JDaniel4’s Mom invited me to guest post on Pause Life for a Moment, I was so excited and flattered. She wants me to come over and write for her? Um… Yes, please. I accepted with glee!
JDaniel4 has got to be one of the happiest kids on the planet, don’t you think? He’s got one creative and loving mama! I think she’s one smart cookie and I love coming over here to read her blog, so the fact that I get to write here is such a treat!
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Pausing life.
Oh, the hardest thing to do sometimes stops, isn’t it?
When I got to thinking about pausing life, I didn’t just think of pressing pause on the activities of the business in the day-to-day of parenting, but my heart actually ached with the thought of pausing this chapter of life that seems to be slipping away from me.
I am a wife, mother, and child of God. I want to embrace the calling He has given me. Not just for a moment, but for the whole season. I don’t want to wait to be “in the mood” for this blessing of motherhood. I want to hunger for it more than anything else in this world.
A wise woman I love and admire told me something I will never forget. She said, “When I was your age all we ever talked about was what we would do once the kids were grown. Now that they are, we all sit around talking about the things we wish we had done with them.”
I don’t want to do that.
We have pictures of the boys all over our fridge. When I walked by them today, I noticed the children staring back at me was once my babies. Their sweet faces are hardly recognizable today. Where did those baby faces go? Why does it have to happen so fast? I almost cried.
It seems like those pictures were taken last week. I looked into the living room in desperation, hoping to find the children in the pictures. Instead, I found a young man speaking with a deep voice and another boy who looked just like the older one used to. Sigh…
I wish I could freeze life right now!
But, I can’t.
But, there are things we can do to make sure we’re pausing life.
I’m not going to make a list…
We all have the list. I won’t bore you with mine. But, I will leave you with one word to think about.
Contentment.
Until we learn to find contentment in this season of life, we will always be looking for what’s ahead. All the while we’ll be missing what’s right in front of us. Didn’t we once look ahead to the season we have now? We’re here! We’re living it! We have so much to be thankful for. Soak it in.
We live in a world that lies to us by making us feel less than if we are content with what we have or where we are in life. We come from a society that is never satisfied. Always wanting more. More time, more money, more kids, more, more, more…We have to fight the desire in our hearts and crave what we have.
We have to pause our hearts.
That’s how I think we can all pause life.
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Oh Adrienne is singing my song! I am basically pretty happy, but I’m not content and it makes me crazy… that I can’t seem to put my finger on how to feel settled and content with things the way that are… not that I shouldn’t still strive to make things better, but to be content with my life in the meantime…*sigh*
It’s a tough word. I actually needed my own reminder this morning. 🙂
It really is a tough word. It is hard to teach JDaniel about what the word means.
Gorgeous!
Thank you!
I totally agree.
I love that word – contentment. Oh sure there are things that I would change about my life right now, but overall completely content. It is a great feeling
Thanks for the reminder.
Yes, when we sit back and realize we really have everything we need. It’s eye opening. Especially when we see others in need or falling on a hard time. I’m thankful. I just wish I could remember that everyday.
Adrienne is so right. My family has all of our needs and so many wants.
Yes, yes, yes! We need to live life in the moment, right now. Very well said!
In the moment, exactly! Thanks, Lisa!
This is such a great reminder.
Thank you SO much for having me, and thank you for such kind words. It means so much that you feel that way!
It is truly my honor.
So beautifully written Adrienne! There is much to be said about living on the now.
With small children there are so many moments you don’t want to miss.
Thanks, Barbara!
Adrienne,
Jdaniel4 is right, you paint beautiful word pictures. I’m always challenging myself, even through my writing, to be still just where I am to enjoy that view, that moment. I’m now a fan and a follower…lovely post.
Thanks so much and thanks for coming over and following. It’s great “meeting” you. 🙂
Beloved- I love that we both see wonderful things in Adrienne’s writing.
That was beautiful.. and so true.
thanks
Noelle- You are so going to love visiting her blog.
What a great post and thoughts Adrienne and nice to ‘meet’ you JDaniel4.
Thank you so much for visiting. Adrienne’s words drew you here. So glad you came.
Oh Adrienne, I love this post! My church’s sermon series until Easter is the 40 days of Passion. We are digging deep into the gospel and reading devotions. This very thing, the contentment, I just read about yesterday. You are so right.
Bless you my friend!
Bless you too, sweet girl!
Also, thank you JDaniels4 mom for having Adrienne post! Love her!
I am so honored to have her here.
Some good counsel here.
=)
She is such a wise lady.
That is so kind! Coming from you I am beyond flattered! I’m making a tab for “features” so I can back to include my special day here! Thanks so much for having me. 🙂