Having 4 kids under the age of nine can be a chaotic thing. I'm not sure how it happens but when one has a meltdown the others are sure to follow. The cycles of calm to chaos in our home are fairly regular and Kellie and I are learning more creative techniques everyday to keep the peace. Don't get me wrong, my kids are wonderful. But there are those times where life gets out of balance and minor episodes can turn into major meltdowns.
Ever since the Lord has led me to step away from the church I served for over nine years and take a step of faith for Him, I knew that there would be more time spent at home with the kids, something that I was more than ready to happen. God has been gracious to provide me with many opportunities to go and preach, but there is still much time that I have to study and prepare from the comfortable confines of my home. With Kellie switching over to day shifts as a nurse, I now enjoy the kids unassisted for the better part of those days and to be totally honest it can get pretty tiring. I am not the most patient of persons (whoever said that you should never ask God to give you patience because He will was out of his mind - you're gonna learn it whether you ask for it or not!) so I have really had to work hard to not make mountains out of molehills.
Needless to say there have not been too much down time over the past few weeks. Today, however, my wife was taking our two oldest daughters to their dance recital rehearsal for the afternoon (recital tomorrow at Guilford College at 5:00 - see you there!) and when our son Deacon begged to go she gave it the okay. At first I wasn't too big on the idea of him going. There wouldn't be much for him to do and I was afraid he would be a little too active to keep up with. But my amazing wife insisted it was all good and so out the door they went. Not long after that I laid our littlest one down for her nap and it was then that I noticed something that is rarely is observed here during the day - it was quiet.
As I sit here and type these words, I am amazed at what a little time of solitude can do for the soul. In fact, I am so humbled by this opportunity that I almost don't know what to do with myself. I've seen people updating their Facebook status all day on this rainy Saturday with expressions of boredom and dead time, yet for me that is a dream come true. The times of solitude that God gives to us are a blessing from Him. Instead of endless channel surfing or brainless internet time, perhaps it's best to sit and be quiet for awhile or to spend some extra time in the Word or a good book.
I miss the little voices (and screams) that are now absent from my home but I am also grateful for this bonus time to study and reflect on my Lord and Savior. It is times like these that God wants to draw us even closer to Him and to shape us into the image of Christ. Don't take the solitude for granted.
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