Guest Blogger: In the Midst of Chaos

My guest blogger this morning is a dear friend whom I met as our kids played together at the park. Her peace is contagious and she has such a big heart. As a pastor's wife and mom of two young kids, she has found a way to balance ministry, kids and marriage in a way that is admirable - thanks for writing R.S. :)

Yesterday morning I woke up at 6, prepared to spend a few minutes reading my bible before making my contribution to Rebecca's blog. As usual, all my efforts to creep quietly into the kitchen to pour a cup of coffee, hoping and praying for one hour alone, were wasted. I cringed when I heard my daughter's door open, disappointed again. I love my children and enjoy spending time with them, but often feel frustrated by the fact that my desire to spend time in prayer and reflection is never satisfied. In an attempt to find some spiritual meaning in a life filled with constant noise and interruptions, I have begun reading a book, In the Midst of Chaos: Caring for Children as Spiritual Practice by Bonnie j. Miller-mclemore. In the opening chapter, she challenges the idea that a daily "quiet" time is necessary for spiritual growth, reminding us of the fact that this leaves most moms out in the cold. Our daily lives are filled with noise (even as I write this my son is tugging on my leg, asking for a story). There has to be a way for us to connect with god, to grow spiritually, within the chaos of motherhood. I have begun the process of changing my expectations, of choosing to make my time with my children more meaningful. I've found that I can grow while reading bible stories to my kids and praying with them, that I can sing while washing dishes and thank god throughout the day for the blessing of these two wonderful gifts. This will require a depth of discipline that wasn't necessary when I was able to sing "holy, holy, holy" without having to ignore the sound of my children singing, "poop, poop, pooooop" in the next room.