Real Life
Sometimes I get frustrated by the sacrifices required to be a mother, wife, and home school teacher. I rarely get time to myself until after sunset, but staying up late to enjoy the quiet makes me tired with a propensity towards grumpiness no amount of coffee can remedy. My hobbies are stuffed in closets never to be seen. Most of my conversations begin with the question, “Why?” or “What?” and do not end until I say, “Let’s have a snack.” After serving apples slices, I clean up the salt my youngest used to “finger paint” the table while my son runs around asking questions again.
Living amid confusion and chaos is common for mothers; however, what we do has a higher purpose.
The most basic place of our sacramental living is in our marriages and homes and families. Here we live together in well-reasoned love for everyone around us. Here we experience the sacrament of the present moment…
C. S. Lewis wisely observed, ‘the great thing, if one can say it, is to stop regarding all the unpleasant things as interruptions of one’s ‘own’ or ‘real’ life. The truth is of course what one calls interruptions are precisely one’s real life–the life God is sending one day by day: what one calls one’s ‘real life’ is a phantom of one’s own imagination.’ Streams of Living Water by Richard J. Foster
This is my real life and it is good. Wiping little noses, answering questions all day every day, reading Winnie the Pooh over and over, and bringing cups of water to my children, after they have been put in bed, are privileges in the eyes of eternity.
Julie, thank you for sending me this quote.
Hi Renae! Thanks for dropping by my site and for leaving a note always. How old are your kids whom you homeschooled? Until what age will they homeschool? I am contemplating on homeschooling my baby. Although he is still 1 yr and 4 months now. I am really considering homeschool and I hope to learn from you. Thanks!
Marn,
You are very welcome. Thank you for visiting my blog. I do hope my writing encourages you. Enjoy this time with your baby. He is learning so much already.
My children are 9, 3 1/2, and 2. I honestly don’t know how long I will home school. Right now I am taking it one year at a time, but there is no plan to enroll them anywhere, anytime soon.
I look forward to the years when we can reason even more deeply. Already, my son is beginning to put together what he has learned with what he is learning now. It is wonderful to see his thought process. I never want that to end!
Bug is even teaching me things. My post “10 Characteristics of a Slave” was inspired by an observation my son had while studying the history of the Hebrews. I trust this year holds great lessons for me and my children.
Renae,
Thank you so much for this gentle reminder. I choked up when I was reading the quote by C.S. Lewis, since I am so guilty of being selfish with my time and desires.
This was such a timely post.
Angel,
Thank you for visiting my blog and sharing your kind thoughts.
My response was similar to yours when I read this quote. We all need gentle reminders in the trials of motherhood. It takes so much faith to pour our lives into our children. Most days only hold just a glimmer of promise, but thankfully we can trust God to finish what he has started. May he be glorified by my sacrifice of self.
Renae, I loved this post. “The most basic place of our sacramental living is in our marriages and homes and families.” – what a great statement! I just spoke with a woman earlier today who has a husband who goes out and does street ministry and witnesses to many people, but within their home, he is an oppressive and arrogant man. We’ve got to get it figured out in our homes, that is our REAL LIFE, not what our job is or how we minister in the church.
I love the quote by C.S. Lewis and I couldn’t have come upon it at a better time!
You put it into such a wonderful context for me, almost describing my situation to a tee.
Shawna,
I’m so glad you were encouraged. I had to record this quote to read when I am struggling with the daily duties of motherhood.
Jennifer,
I just realized that I never responded to your comment. I’m sorry.
You are right. We need to have our families in order first. Our families will never be perfect, but we must not forget those we have the biggest influence upon. Hypocrisy pushes our children away from God.
Oh Renae-I needed this reminder and this perspective!
Thank you!
Jenny
Thanks so much for participating in this week’s Carnival of Family Life hosted at Pajama Mommy Community! Be sure to drop by and check out some of the other wonderful entries this week!
Hi Renae!
This is really a wonderful post. I totally related and enjoyed it.
Great quote! “Phantoms of one’s own imaginations”….. wow.
-J
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