My post yesterday convicted me.
Remember my note to self —Toys can look either messy or beautiful depending on perspective. I’m trying to see them the latter way.– and the picture?
I started to ponder how many times I’ve said —
Clean up that mess
— to my kids.
What if that in my eyes mess was in fact their fabulous creation?
What if those Lincoln Logs were time spent in play only to be regarded as simply messy?
What am I teaching them?
They’re teaching me. To watch the words that oh, so, quickly leave my mouth. To listen to the phrases, the intonation, and the meaning. To wonder if the words empower or leave little ones with hearts that are slightly crushed. Defeated. Maybe sad that their creativity was lumped into mom’s phrasing at clean-up time as a mess.
One word.
So I’m not going to say that anymore for an afternoon of toys spread out. I’m going to reserve the word mess for those times when it really really really is a mess — and even then I’m hoping to pause just for a moment before those four little letters leave never to return.
If you look really closely, maybe squint, or use that dusty childlike imagination you can start to see beauty in the randomness of wood strewn about my family room floor. Remember? Remember the freedom in a sunny afternoon spent sprawled on the floor creating a world?
It’s of brothers interacting. Laughing. Doing life. Learning.
I’m so grateful that I was reminded.
It’s a glorious creation.
And the farthest thing possible from a mess.
13 comments
This is beautifully wriiten and so true. I use the word ness too much also. I’m going to think about what I say before I just complain about a “mess”. Thank you.
a day without mess sounds better anyway! : ) you’re going to have a good day. and the tie? absolutely adorably CUTE!
I remember being young and playing with toys strewn everywhere and my mom coming in and saying it was clean up time. I remember being oh so sad for it took a long time for my sister and I to achieve our creation. I do remember mom leaving the word ‘mess’ for my room and for the dirty dishes but not for toys, it was always ‘clean up time’. This I tried to carry on into my family so when the kids were small I would say it is time for playing clean up. I know I didn’t retain this always and on pushed, frustrated days I would call it a mess but not often.
With 7 kids I can see your day would be a blur sometimes. I think you are a great mom always trying to think about your kids feelings instead of how you would like your house to be.
And the tie? That is cute!!
Blessings,
<><
That’s a good kind of mess!!!
Your children are so beautiful. Now that mine are older I actually miss that big basket of toys that was always present in our family room. Even though it’s easier to keep the house looking nice I miss having young children in the house.
Wow – I love this. Your words are a beautiful reminder.
Thank-you so much for your words!! I had never stopped to think about how calling toys a mess could really be hurtful! What a wonderful reminder to be careful of what we are saying (& how we are saying it) to our children!
Jessica
Another beautiful entry! You amaze me with your inspirations. Hugs!
I’ve had my hands full lately and have not come on to read some of my favorites in quite some time, but I love that nothing changes here! Every single time I read a post you have written, I am humbled by words I feel are being spoken directly to me. You always manage to remove all the stuffing and get to the heart of really living and focusing on what is important. As always, ever thankful for the reminder of how I want to be with my children.
Definitely love the tie!
Know that your family is always in my thoughts and prayers!
Isaiah 53:4-6 ¶Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
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Oh that tie is too cute! I have messes all around me. Only because I am just too tired to pick them up. But I wholeheartedly agree! Learning to find the beauty in all things!
you are such a wise mommy! i miss
seeing my boys creating their forts
and villages and listening to their
sweet conversation.
the best is when you have a place that
they can just leave them out and work
on a project for days on end.
my entire living room would be draped
with sheets and blankets, as my kids
played ‘the bobbsie twins’ or ‘davy
crockett’.
. . . or the nazis and the jews, i know
pretty weird. too much “anne frank” and
corrie ten boom, i guess.
So glad you left that sweet comment on my blog….because it led me to yours. LOVE your blog…just refreshed me soul tonight. I have a friend with two children who suffer from something very similar to your sweet Sam. It has long name…but they have walked a hard path of doctors trying to get to the root of things. You might want to check her out at Life with the Sewell’s. ( I hope that is correct.) Again, glad to find you!
Monica