Monday, April 20, 2015

Peace

The afternoon breeze that moves the leaves of our large shade tree in back is cool today. The spring sun is warm, traveling down through blue sky, remiss of any cloud. The wind picks up again and there is a rustle of sweet beauty outside. Inside the house is silent. The boys are sleeping and my love is out for a run. Here in this tranquility, I am thankful for peace. Like the cool breeze that gives life to resting leaves, the peace of this quiet house is precious.

Soon, the boys stir, both waking up at the time time. The big one ready for a snuggle; the small one ready for a snack.Berry-flavored yogurts. Peanut butter and honey. Water. This, too, is precious: this peace of being able to provide for them as their mom. To give them food when they are hungry. To establish routines of predictability for their growing brains. To read them stories to inspire their imaginations. To have peace and love come together. Here is the joy of being a mom.
Now they sit in front of the TV for their screen time of the day, providing commentary to the video game in the unique way that boys do. There is no arguing, no hitting, no yelling. Just the relaxed conversations of boys who are home. Sweet peace.
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A day is coming soon when we will introduce another little boy into this clan. As he moves to find a comfortable place within my belly, I wonder where his comfortable place will be within these walls and within this family. Will his arrival bring peace? My previous experiences with newborns stirs up in me senses of exhaustion and loud cries and constant demands: practically the opposite of peace in my head.
Perhaps that is why God has been working in me a great lesson in peace. He is showing me that it comes daily—that it cannot be stored up, but I must be dependent on him for its existence in my life. He is showing me how it comes in small times and in small ways, usually at times when I do not expect it, and when it would be easy to gloss over it; but those are the powerful moments—those moments when we are only aware of his magnificent work if we take a step back to look outside of ourselves to what is going on around us. His peace is precious indeed.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27