I know. It’s Friday and we are supposed to be doing “Face to Face Friday” here at Mommy on Fire but Internet Cafe Devotions has scheduled my article to publish today. If you feel like visiting and leaving some comment love there, I will buy you a latte or a Chardonnay the next time I see you...
It was December 23. 9 p.m.
My sick husband was asleep, my children had been snoozing for an hour, and the house was quiet. I could finally dive into the frenzy that many mothers find themselves inhabiting just two days before Christmas even though every year we say we won’t.
“Do I have enough bowls for the soup we’ll be serving our friends tomorrow? Does each of my children have the same amount of gifts in their stockings? Is the toilet in our guest bathroom clean?” I thought. The list was endless and as my mind jumped from one “to-do” to another every 30 seconds, I heard a still small voice say,
“You’re losing sight, Natalie. You’re taking your eyes off of Me.”
“Oh no, God. Really – I’m not,” I answered. “I just need to get all of this done but don’t worry, I’m still keeping my eyes on you.”
After deciding that a trip to Wal-Mart was imperative, I found myself walking into an obscenely busy store filled with mostly women wearing my same look of panic and weariness. The bowls and a few other items for our stockings that would fill a few empty spaces were discovered and I quickly made my way to the check-out line.
Checking out in front of me was a woman, roughly my own age, with a cart filled with diapers and other necessities that all mothers of young children need. I didn’t see any new bowls for entertaining. I didn’t see any toys that looked like they might fit perfectly into a stocking.
As I watched her, it became clear that she knew the woman who was scanning her items.
“Do you have to work tomorrow?” the check-out woman asked.
“Yep, all day long,” replied the mother as a look of exhaustion and disappointment ensnared her weary face.
And then I saw what I was too blind to see and too deaf to hear just an hour before.
I had taken my eyes off of Him. Two days before Christmas nonetheless.
Click here to read the rest of “Keeping My Eyes On Him” at Internet Cafe Devotions…
And of course, I’m joining Michelle at “Lost in the Prairies” for Caffeinated Randomness and my sweet friend, Rachel at “A Steady Rain” for Friday Feedback…
I couldn’t decide if I should comment here or at Internet Cafe Devotions, so I came back here. This is great! And you are not alone. We all do this, everyday. At least I do. I’m glad God reminds us in so many ways to turn our eyes back to him.
Me, too, Courtney. Me, too.
Thanks for reading and commenting! Have a fabulous weekend!
Since I just commented over there, I will be holding you to the drink. I’m going to choose a chai latte. Or maybe a glass of red wine. Because I will be seeing YOU.
You got it, girl!
It’s so true how easy it is for us to lose our focus on Him. Thank you for your mommy advice today. I’m definitely going to take it easy, though my Martha brain has great plans.
Well, you DO know what Jesus told Martha, right? :) Get well soon and be a Mary!!!! :)
Thanks so much for linking up today, friend! Heading over to read the rest right now!
Isn’t it a pity that the one time of year our eyes should be on him the most is when we lose all sight? I promise myself every year that I won’t, but I always do.