Slow down, have some fun

I’m sitting here with heavy eyelids looking at all the Christmas decorations scattered all over the place.  I had good intentions, I really did.  I was going to have the inside of my house completely decorated today.

I got up early this morning, did my devotions, enjoyed my coffee and started off with a bang.  Seven boxes later, tree up and the remaining mountain of merriment covering my dining room table and floor, I lost my momentum.  Then my daughter said, “Let’s go to the movies”.  That was the end of it, so here I sit at 10:00pm surrounded by nutcrackers, snow men, greenery, angels and scented candles galore with no energy left at all.

But, I will have to say, I’m very proud of myself.  Normally when I put my mind to something, there is nothing that can stop me.  I tend to be a very resolved, stay with the program, planner or some might say more like a rigid, unbending, fanatic.  It’s unlike me, out of character to just drop everything on a whim, just to go have fun.

This felt good though; more quality time with my daughter and her friend and I got to see a movie I’ve been wanting to see, not to mention the peppermint chocolate chip milkshake from Chick Fil A.  Honestly, I look back and wish I could say that I had done this a lot more often, especially when my children were younger.  The house might not have been as clean and maybe I wouldn’t have felt as “in control”, but we would have had more fun. I’ve heard it asked before, “What will our children remember?  A clean house or the priceless memories we shared with them?”  Thankfully, I was blessed with lots of good memories and I’m sure my children were as well.  However, I know there were times when I was too busy, or just too devoid of flexibility to mix things up a bit for the sake of frivolity.

If you have young children, don’t hesitate to stop whatever you’re doing and embrace those moments.  They are gone all too quickly.  Sometimes I think that is why grandparents are so amazing; because they have learned this and will more often make the time to make a memory.

If God has blessed you with a child, grandchild, niece, nephew or any other child you spend time with, share your knowledge with them, lead them, guide them, but take care to just stop what you are doing sometimes and have fun!  Play in the water hose, make pictures out of the clouds, play that game and listen with your heart.  You won’t regret one minute of it!

Good night; I’ll be dreaming that elves come in and finish my decorating by morning….