Caleb had been asking me to color with him all day. From the moment he woke, through breakfast, after some academics, and through the morning.
Mom, can you color with me?
I kept telling him those dreaded and over-used mom words – in a minute – and continued on with my work. What I deemed important for those morning minutes. The dishes were unloaded, and the counter wiped, and the room tidied. I vacuumed the carpet and hung coats. I was feeling great. Accomplished.
Till I looked at the table and saw Caleb. Sitting there.
Waiting.
Mom, can you color with me, now?
I looked around. There were still more things to be done. After all, the top of the piano still had books on it, and there was a rug to be shaken out, of course math to teach, lunch to figure out, and I still needed to get Samuel out of his pajamas. I had so much work that I thought I needed to do.
There he was – coloring away – looking up every once in a while wondering if I would come.
Mom, can you color with me? Please?
The cleaning wasn’t done.
The list of things to do would have to stay unfinished.
Because at that moment I put down the list and picked up the real important list. Instead of focusing on everything that was important to me, I began to focus on what was important to my five-year old copper haired little boy sitting at the table. Waiting.
And then his important became my important.
The cleaning waited.
Because we colored.
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11 comments
It is so easy to get wrapped up in our lists and forget the most important things. Glad you put the list down and colored 🙂
These are the moments they will remember. 🙂
Your words hit me hard. I don’t know why I don’t see these things when they are happening, but reading them through your post made an impact on me.
I tell my kids “in a minute” a lot. More than I care to admit. The minute passes by and so does the next hour and then they give up and do something else. Coloring and Play Doh are the main things on this here.
As soon as Kelsie comes home from school today the first thing I’m gonna ask her is if she’ll color with me! Thank you!!
Oh Rachel!
You have found the secret!
(though I prefer coloring to origami which is what I had to conquer today for a waiting lass)
Thank you dear wise momma:-)
So good….a great reminder to take the little moments in life 🙂
And I’m guessing this was the highlight of his day! : ) I know this must have made a huge impression on his heart.
So sweet…so much better when we put our priorities in order.
I so love this.
These are the things that make lasting impact on our children’s lives. You are a wonderful momma!
There’s just something about brand new crayons….
Christ died and rose again that we might have hope! Praying!
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Prayer Bears
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Ugh guilty! Thanks for this!