For those of you with small children this will make no sense. But for those of us who have children grown and on their own stopping is so important.
In the midst of a busy work day this week, my phone vibrated. I looked down and it was a message from my oldest daughter. I love getting messages from the kids. As I opened it up, it read:
Maj, let’s have spaghetti tonight!
My first instinct was Seriously, tonight! Can we get a raincheck?
It’s that stopping thing. When I’m in the zone and accomplishing much it’s like my brain doesn’t want to depart from there. But this was an invitation from my daughter. But an invitation that required planning, shopping, and stopping.
As I debated over whether to STOP – I knew I had to, after all it is my focus for this year. I quickly made a list and got the ingredients. We set up a time and because I stopped and said yes to an invitation for spaghetti, my daughter invited the whole family. It was a nice evening – the family, laughter, chats, and food.
As I rolled into bed, I was so thankful I quit what I was doing to focus on the important – my kids. No matter how old our children are – they still love home-cooked meals and fun times with the family.
It was just a moment in time, I almost missed. Yikes!
If you have a story to tell about how you STOPPED to serve or encourage another I’d love to hear about it. You can link up here.
Linking up at Moments that Define Life, here are a few other Listable Life mommy moments that I am proud to say I didn’t miss:
3. The Engagement {if I could keep you little}
4. Unashamed!
Alene, yes we get to consume with what we need to do or what we need to have that we fail to stop for those we love, even for Him…
It is such a battle, for sure! Hope you find time to stop today.
I think about & try to practice stopping all the time with my 2-year-old. He's growing so fast, and I'm afraid to miss it if I'm too busy with other things–things that can and should be put aside so I can spend time with my child.
Thanks for your comment on my blog today! :)
This is simply beautiful. I miss my mom. She is so busy… it takes lots of planning and coordination, especially since I have two little guys and we are an hour and a half away… so my daughter's heart is crying with joy that you "stopped."
This made my heart happy.
Thanks, Alene.
You did exactly what I would do…time with the kids are so much more precious than other stuff
Lovely post on stopping and enjoying our families. Your listable post, I love the posts about your son getting engaged and the Unashamed. Both were so touching, really and truly. Thanks for joining in the #ListableLife fun! I hope I'll see you link up again next week!
What a sweet reminder of what is important. I just posted about "family" today too.
Bless you and thanks for sharing your family with us!
Love,
Beth
Each and everyone of your comments are blessing me today. Meredith, thanks for your crying heart – you encourage me onward! And Nicole – I love your listable's. so much fun.
This is fantastic, Alene!
Oh, how I want to remember to STOP. Thanks for this post.
~Karen
My guys are all so little- but I love this idea. Stopping is important. Even now. I have to try and remember that.
Karen and Fritter – thank you so much. Ohmygoodness — learn to stop while they are young and it will be so much easier when they are older. Blessings friends. Remember to stop and love on the family! Blessings.
Thanks for the link-ups. Loving the stories. Living our lives out while remembering to stop for others!!!