Saturday afternoon, we arrived home to a relatively clean house, a stack of mail, and seven voice mails. The very first one was from Sr. Mary Ann, my grandfather’s sister and the woman who taught me to play checkers on that same vacation in 1980 that I shared pictures of a few days ago. She is an avid “reader” of this blog, and her Christmas message was heartfelt, and to the point: Kate, I hope you take time to find the quiet this year.
It got me thinking about my expectations: what I need, and what I only think I need. Last night, for instance, Julianna was sitting beside me at the piano as I talked to a voice student, whining for me to play music; so I began hitting random chords…and discovered something beautiful that I wanted to write down. So do I really need quiet to hear the music–or do I just need to go sit down and start playing?
I’ve all but given up on quiet for the moment. I have hopes for four weeks from now, when Julianna starts school…but they are hopes tempered by reality. It’s reality that there isn’t enough time for everything; every day I have to choose between quiet time and work time; exercise and writing; scrapbooking and house cleaning. That is the reality of life with three small children, and that is my blessing. After all, it wasn’t so long ago that I begged God every night for three years, in tears and raw suffering, to give us one child.
And therein, I believe, lies my answer. I may want to listen to God in the stillness, in the quiet—but in this season of my life, God speaks to me through my children: through Alex, playing dress-up doll with his sister; through Julianna’s sweet hugs and infectious giggles; through Nicholas’s sparkling eyes and Mamama’s. My task is to learn to listen in a new way.
***
Every Wednesday, we Walk with Him, posting a spiritual practice that draws us nearer to His heart. Join Ann at Holy Experience.
Kathleen M. Basi 
I’m living in the same season… and too am blessed when I take the time to hear God through my children.
He is always speaking, always communicating – but you’re right, we must learn to listen in a new way – and O, the blessings we receive when we do.
grace and peace
aimee
Thank you. I’ve been struggling to listen to God when it’s quiet, but the reality is, I hear him better when there’s noise.
“Learn to listen in a new way.” Very insightful of you. You must have been listening to God to hear that! We do have different seasons of life and we have to adjust our hearing in each stage.
I also like your friend’s encouragement to “take time to find the quiet.” Good stuff.
Blessings to you,
Lisa
THIS IS SO TRUE! God puts us in different seasons of our life… we just need to listen where we are at.
Good stuff! So nice to meet and follow your blog.
Hugs,
Traci
I agree…it’s difficult sometimes to hear God and then we realize that He has simply moved to a different way of speaking to us. Beautiful.
I really like your interpretation here. I, too, am often frustrated that I don’t have time to be still, to slow down. I’m often resentful that I have to choose between so many conflicting interests. But here, your advice to listen through your children, through your activities, now that’s something to think about, too. Thank you!
I remember that season of wishing I could have quiet time without it involving me having to lock myself in the bathroom. You’re right. God speaks to us in the everyday…wherever we find ourselves, no matter the season. He can use all of it.
Thanks to all of you for such lovely comments! And I need to take my own advice…whew! Can you say SNOW DAY???? And my kids aren’t even missing school!
Thank you so much for sharing this. If we want to hear from HIMour hearts desire is to hear him I believe we will. t ust may not be in the way we expeced or even what we wanted to hear =) Be Blessed!! Angie in GA