I have been
given the greatest gift – the gift of Time.
Oh how I always crave more ‘free’ time, although as a believer in Christ
all of my time is actually His to redeem as He sees fit. But time that isn’t allocated to work, or as
in the case with this gift, prison ministry, is a precious thing. How to use it?
I’ll work on
my book and web site preparations, of course.
And have time to sit, pray, read devotions and scripture, and just
be. Which is what I like to do on January
1 each year anyway, reflecting on my many blessings and writing goals for the
coming year that stretches out before me like an unused roll of fresh drawing
paper waiting for a story in pictures.
So many things to choose from:
house projects, picture projects, writing letters, culling things to
give away or sell on craigslist, updating my prayer list, putting the house
back in order after the wonderful week of having kids and grands here. Plus I’m always in danger of ADD moments – oh
look, there’s a cabinet I need to reorganize, or a closet to clean out, or I’ve
always wanted to move that couch to the other side of the room which means
rearranging everything and before you know it a day has passed. Maybe I’ll even get out of my pajamas and get
dressed.
So I pause
before letting my mind get on the thought racetrack speeding towards
overwhelmed. Looking around the
grandkids room I marvel at Emily’s version of cleaning up. She did a great job, and I enjoy looking at
how she arranged the books, stuffed animals, puzzles, toys, and arts and
crafts, different than I would but not so different after all. The toy Tonka digger that usually sits
by Mike and the Steam Shovel is
now parked in front of the wooden blocks next to the golden books. Which have been read and much loved this
visit, I’m happy to say. The Peter
Rabbit family shelf is playing host to Noah’s Ark and all the animals stored
inside. The Winnie the Pooh section is
relatively undisturbed, except that Eyeore looks anxiously at Piglet’s foot which
is stuck in his ear. Clifford and
Company are in their place, as are the Three Bears and their book. The Bambi and Jungle Book area is definitely
in disarray. Bambi’s head is leaning
back into the corner, exhaustion emanating from every fiber of his stuffed
body, while Baloo and Lion King look quite happy to be perched atop the Peter
Rabbit puzzle case, digger’s tractor tread perched atop Lion King’s head like a
black rubber halo. Stickers adorn
everything – books, the floor, toys, and sleeping bags. Pooh sleeping bag is neatly folded away in
the closet, but Caterpillar sleeping bag is languishing on the floor in need of
a wash.
Across the
top of the shelves things are almost normal.
Cat in the Hat leans over into Ramona, who has one shoe hanging off as
always, their books as backrests. Minnie
and Mickey have been left to their own devices, as has the Very Hungry
Caterpillar, while Spot was only recently placed back after being loved on by
Liam over Christmas. Mouse is nowhere
near If You Give a Mouse a Cookie but is sitting over in the new toy
wooden rocker with Nativity Bear, on the floor next to Raggedy Ann. My blocks that spell grandchildren’s names no
longer say Emily, Molly, Lily, Lola or Liam.
One set says May, another says Mo, and yet another grouping has an I
leading an E and Y on their sides – clearly Molly was involved in this. The musical water globe is still perched next
to the box of crayons and stickers, directly beneath Little Red Riding Hood and
right in front of Curious George. Snoopy
sits at the far end, one ear looped over his head, looking content.
Which is how
I feel. Content. I LOVE the evidence that my grandchildren
have been here, and am reluctant to make any changes. So I won’t.
I’ll spend this gift of time as the Spirit moves, some in quiet
gratitude, some in creative writing, some in productive cleaning, but all
bathed in the knowledge of how filled with love is my life.
