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Lingering Lovingly

November 16, 2010 By Christine Field

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I learn a lot over the summer and holidays.  As a home schooling mom,my school year is totally focused on teaching and training the children.  During the holidays or summertime, it’s Mommy’s turn to be taught.

On a picture-perfect summer day, our family pace is slowed.  We are not rushing to complete math pages or dashing to yet another activity.  It feels different.  We feel rich – and enriched.  We take our luxurious time.

We have the privilege to linger lovingly – over the smallest bug or the most spectacular fireworks, over the most magnificent Christmas tree or the most humble manger scene.  We take time.

We have the blessing to linger lovingly at the table.  We pray longer and harder and savor our simple meals.  The chatter of children swapping stories and their attacks of infectious giggling ring in our ears long after bedtime night silence.  We take time.

We have the honor to linger lovingly in conversation with our children – to learn their thoughts and concerns and to wonder at the development of their fine minds and the machinations of their incredible imaginations.  We take time.

We have the delight to linger lovingly when we gaze at their beautiful faces – to see their increasing maturity and growing character mirrored in their eyes and expressions.  We take time.

We have the blessing to linger lovingly with our spouses – sitting contentedly in the yard watching the children play against a backdrop of flickering fireflies or an inviting winter fire.  We take time.

Mommy’s lesson over summer and the holidays is to remember to linger lovingly when the pace picks back up – to keep a less harried perspective during the harried school year.

One recent summer I had the privilege to linger lovingly at the bedside of a critically ill sister.  Each heartbeat was a gift, each breath through the machine was a major effort.  As she inhaled, I prayed, “Lord be with her.”  As she exhaled I prayed, “Lord be with us.  The hours I spent sitting vigil at her bedside were times of deep, prayerful contemplation.  With each pulse of her precious life, the Lord was again teaching me to linger lovingly.  Each moment could be the last.  (Indeed, she passed away shortly thereafter.)

More recently, my oldest daughter went in for a routine endoscopy and, while emerging from sedation, began to have grand mal seizures.  They continued at the rate of 25-30 per day for nearly a week.  We remain mired in a diagnostic haze, looking for answers and solutions.

I continue my education as I watch my husband’s metastatic cancer.  He faces each day with strength and courage, cherishing and lingering at every opportunity.

After these hospital visits, I would go home to my noisy, messy house which was bursting with life, excitement and noise.  With each child’s greeting cry of, “Mommy!

Mommy!” I would linger lovingly to plant a kiss on each forehead, on each healthy, happy hand and whisper my prayer of thanksgiving for the precious privilege of life and loving with all its ups and downs, joys and sorrows.

Dear friend, are there tensions in your relationships?    Are there words unspoken, or words which you wish you could suck back into your mouth?  Take the time to set them right.  Tell your loved ones what they mean to you.

Linger lovingly over the precious gifts the Lord has sent in the form of family and relationships.

Linger lovingly over your blessings and cherish them.  For THIS is the day the Lord has made – not tomorrow, or after the holiday, or when the economy improves.  Rejoice and be glad TODAY.

Filed Under: Relationships Tagged With: focus, paying attention, time

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Hi, I’m Christine

Have you been a wholehearted mother, but time, toddlers and teenagers have moved on? If you are wondering what comes next for you, you’ll feel right at home here.

Or, are you a mom for whom family life has been non-Pinworthy and parenting has been downright painful? I hear ya. There are many of us around.

Are you looking for a life full of exploration and adventure after the nest empties, but maybe you have no idea how to go about doing that? Stick around! We’ll explore adventures together to help you gain more clarity for your own path.

After a couple decades of writing books and articles about parenting, homeschooling and adoption, speaking to homeschoolers and other parent groups, and reaching out to the mom in the trenches who was trying to make the best of it - my kids grew up. Some grew up and grew away. I was determined to find a way out of the pain, emptiness and lack of direction.

For many of us, the journey starts with something we moms are not accustomed to. After years of caring for and serving others, sometimes we forget the beauty and wonder of US. We need to spend some time getting to know the parts of ourselves that have lain dormant, and take the time to explore interests and passions that we set aside.

I’d like to invite you to get the “What’s Next for Mom” workbook and jump into this growing tribe of Moms who are emptying the nest and filling the life! Let’s reignite your Mojo after Mothering!
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About Christine

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At Real Mom Life, my passion is to provide resources and reassurances for moms facing the surprising challenges of family life. In my writing and speaking, I explore solutions to unexpected issues in adoption, homeschooling, special needs, and more while encouraging moms to extract the maximum joy out of each day. Read More…

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