I am presently babysitting my nine month old grandson and I would not be writing if he were not taking his nap right now. When he is awake I get on the floor and play with him. We read books, play with his various toys, or he walks around the room with me while being safely secured between my knees, his soft little hands grasping mine. When I was here two days ago I took him for a walk in his stroller. We ended up sitting on the grass for almost thirty minutes. No toys, just the texture and the scent of the grass and the various sounds all around us. Together we enjoyed looking up at the trees as their leaves rustled in the gentle breeze.
I babysit my grandson because I love him and I love my daughter and her husband. I do something for them but they in turn do so much more for me. If we let them, grand babies can teach us how to be present, without any distractions or interruptions. It's totally different than when my children were small because at that time I still had to do my laundry, keep the house clean, prepare meals, and try to keep caught up on my other work. Thank God I didn't have a cell phone or a laptop back then or who knows what other responsibilities would have beckoned! Grandchildren are a different story. When I am with Christian I do nothing else but be with him. I don't answer my telephone, I don't check my emails, or my Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, etc, etc. I am fully present with him and this is the gift he gives to me. I'm convinced that our times together are even better for me than they are for him. Being in the present moment with someone allows a connection that some of us are missing. It is a time when we can concentrate on what is real and what is lasting. Love, shown in time spent with someone is a special gift which creates memories that outlive any other gift you can give. I am so thankful that I have been given this opportunity to show love in this way.
We can all practice living in the present. Wouldn't it be nice if the next time you are with a friend or a family member you put down your telephone (everyone will survive if you don't answer that text in the next hour or so), turn off the t.v., stop all of your business, and just sit and try to really hear what the other is trying to say to you. I'm talking about being truly present.
A friend of mine passed away a couple of years ago yet I will always remember him as the one who carried a little poem with him 24/7. You could always count on Tom Harken taking out his little card and reading it to someone in the room. He often gave away a copy and I have one that he gave to me. The poem goes like this:
I have only just a minute,
Only sixty seconds in it.
Forced upon me, can't refuse it.
Didn't seek it, didn't choose it.
But it's up to me
to use it.
I must suffer if I lose it.
Give account if I abuse it.
Just a tiny little minute,
but eternity is in it.
Dr. Benjamin E. Mays
As a goal for this year make it a point to be totally present for your friends, family, and anyone you come in contact with . When you are sitting across the table at lunch with a friend please don't take your cell phone out of your purse, or your pocket-- not even for a minute. The message to the other person is that the one calling or trying to get in touch with you is more important than they are. If someone needs to reach you it won't matter if it's thirty minutes or an hour later when they do.
If you don't have a grandchild then find someone to help once in while. Spending time focusing on the needs of another will get you out of your ruts and help you be a more grateful person. There are plenty of people who need your minutes to help them get through some really tough hours, days, weeks, and years. If you need advice knowing where you might be needed please contact me and I will try to help. I have network of amazing friends who run some awesome non-profits and they are always looking for volunteers. ...Or it could be as simple as helping the person who lives nearby who can no longer go to the grocery store by themselves.
Gotta run....time to be with Christian!
So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12
To contact me: Donna@DonnaSchuller.com
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| I didn't have one of these when my children were small! |
I babysit my grandson because I love him and I love my daughter and her husband. I do something for them but they in turn do so much more for me. If we let them, grand babies can teach us how to be present, without any distractions or interruptions. It's totally different than when my children were small because at that time I still had to do my laundry, keep the house clean, prepare meals, and try to keep caught up on my other work. Thank God I didn't have a cell phone or a laptop back then or who knows what other responsibilities would have beckoned! Grandchildren are a different story. When I am with Christian I do nothing else but be with him. I don't answer my telephone, I don't check my emails, or my Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, etc, etc. I am fully present with him and this is the gift he gives to me. I'm convinced that our times together are even better for me than they are for him. Being in the present moment with someone allows a connection that some of us are missing. It is a time when we can concentrate on what is real and what is lasting. Love, shown in time spent with someone is a special gift which creates memories that outlive any other gift you can give. I am so thankful that I have been given this opportunity to show love in this way.
We can all practice living in the present. Wouldn't it be nice if the next time you are with a friend or a family member you put down your telephone (everyone will survive if you don't answer that text in the next hour or so), turn off the t.v., stop all of your business, and just sit and try to really hear what the other is trying to say to you. I'm talking about being truly present.
A friend of mine passed away a couple of years ago yet I will always remember him as the one who carried a little poem with him 24/7. You could always count on Tom Harken taking out his little card and reading it to someone in the room. He often gave away a copy and I have one that he gave to me. The poem goes like this:
I have only just a minute,
Only sixty seconds in it.
Forced upon me, can't refuse it.
Didn't seek it, didn't choose it.
But it's up to me
to use it.
I must suffer if I lose it.
Give account if I abuse it.
Just a tiny little minute,
but eternity is in it.
Dr. Benjamin E. Mays
As a goal for this year make it a point to be totally present for your friends, family, and anyone you come in contact with . When you are sitting across the table at lunch with a friend please don't take your cell phone out of your purse, or your pocket-- not even for a minute. The message to the other person is that the one calling or trying to get in touch with you is more important than they are. If someone needs to reach you it won't matter if it's thirty minutes or an hour later when they do.
If you don't have a grandchild then find someone to help once in while. Spending time focusing on the needs of another will get you out of your ruts and help you be a more grateful person. There are plenty of people who need your minutes to help them get through some really tough hours, days, weeks, and years. If you need advice knowing where you might be needed please contact me and I will try to help. I have network of amazing friends who run some awesome non-profits and they are always looking for volunteers. ...Or it could be as simple as helping the person who lives nearby who can no longer go to the grocery store by themselves.
Gotta run....time to be with Christian!
So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12
To contact me: Donna@DonnaSchuller.com
YES! The little ones do show us how. When we arrived at my daughter's recently, my 4 yr old Grandson came running from his room, took my cane and bag. Once sitting on the couch he came and squished into a place between me and the cushion and showed me his transformer, showed me how it worked, then asked if I wanted to try. Only after several minutes had passed did he ask if I wanted to see his new Lego set he was building. He had left the many pieces in his room not attached, the moment we arrived. Oh how the young see that the Lego or whatever will be there after we have left. This is the time they can have with us and we with them. They are present to us. "Lord, help me to be as children, present to them or whomever I am with and help me empty my thoughts of all else but the present blessing of family and friends"
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, Donna. It is especially important these days to spend quality time with friends and family. We are too caught up in technology.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth