Feels so right, it can't be wrong!

Do you remember that song? I seem to remember more than one youth pastor proclaiming that if you followed the words of that song, you would be headed on a path straight to hay-ell! Okay, their warnings were probably not that strongly worded. But, I've been thinking about that song lately and reflecting that my youth pastor's words are not just for my teenage years. They also apply quite well to moms with young children. No, not that, although that should probably be avoided too as it is what got you in this predicament to begin with! No, I am talking about something else - quiet. Peace and wonderful, quiet silence. It feels so right, it can't be wrong. But, my friends, it is so very, very wrong.

Case study #1: We were visited by nothing short of a miracle, and we were ready to go to church last Sunday about 15 minutes early! So, I decided to sit down for a few minutes and check my email. About 5 minutes into it, I realize I am alone. Blessedly alone. There is no one (Joey) pulling on my mouse hand, climbing behind me in the chair, climbing on the desk beside me, nothing. I say to myself, "How wonderful! Joey must be playing with the other kids." But this is a lie, and I know it. Joey doesn't play with the other kids. Pfft! He must stay glued to my side at all times in case I decide to do something really exciting, like go to the bathroom. He wouldn't want to miss that. But I lie to myself because the few moments of peace feel so good. When it is time to go, I call to the kids to load up, and there is no Joey. No one knows where Joey is. This is not good. Not good at all. I find him on my bathroom counter top where he has smeared himself - his face, clothes and hair - with lotion. Then fingerpainted my mirror with it too. So much for being to church early.


Case study #2: Just the little kids are at home, and they are playing together quietly in their room, allowing me to get some much-needed work done. But, they are in there too long, and it is too quiet. I hear the warning sirens blaring in my head, but I willfully ignore them for the lure of working alone is too much. This was the result of that:




Nice, huh? Lily-Grace decorated him and herself, but I didn't get pictures of her because she was hiding at the time I found Joey, and I didn't realize she had also done herself. Seems she "forgot" that she wasn't supposed to color on Joey anymore. Yes, I can see how that would be hard to remember. I just don't know where she finds the markers. Anytime I see them, I pick them up and put them away - up high. It's been months since she's had any markers unsupervised. I think she has a secret stash of them somewhere, like a drug addict or something.

I could go on with case studies, but I think you've got the point. I just need to hear my youth pastor's voice in my head - if it feels right, it's got to be wrong! No peace & quiet for me - at least until they're in college!