Ministered in Motherhood — Slow Down & Be Present
Whenever I get my son to go to sleep, a million “to-do’s” come to mind.
I need to wash the dishes.
I need to wash my clothes.
I have to clean the bathroom.
I have to sweep.
I need to organize the living room and literally a million other things! Thinking about all that I have to do is so overwhelming.
How do I manage to do all of those things within the hour that my son is sleeping?
It’s not realistic to assume that I will, so how will I decide which tasks to focus on? Given the amount of posts I’ve seen on Instagram, I know that I’m not alone in feeling this way.
I remember on one of the days that I felt overwhelmed with deciding what to do, I came across a post that reminded me that all of the tasks that I felt I had to do will always be there but being able to hold my newborn son won’t be, therefore, I should embrace being able to hold him while I still can.
When I saw that post, I felt the Holy Spirit telling me to slow down, to live in the present, to enjoy this time with my son, even if it means watching him sleep in my arms. He won’t be sleeping in my arms forever and soon enough, I’ll wish that I would’ve appreciated it more.
At the end of the day, who wants to wash clothes, do dishes, etc.? Those are things we feel ‘mom guilt’ about not doing. I’m trying to tell myself that having a baby, especially a newborn, is the perfect excuse to not do these things and call on the help of others to get them done! I know that this is easier said than done, especially since I hate being in a cluttered/disorganized space, but, if I don’t force myself to slow down, I’m robbing myself of precious moments I’ll never get back.
Whether you’re a mom or not, here’s your reminder to slow down. Embrace the present and cling to the precious, once-in-a-lifetime moments. Here are two scriptures that the Holy Spirit brings to mind when it comes to slowing down and being present:
- “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin…” Zechariah 4:10 (NLT)
- “Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act…” Psalms 37:7 (NLT)
I pray that this blesses you! Thanks for reading.
