This is the icicle hanging in front of my living room window.
That window is 4.5 feet high and the roof is a good 2+ feet above the top of the window.
  This icicle is PRESENT!

Be present is a phrase that has been going through my head quite a lot lately.  It has been a convicting thought for me. 

I work from home. 
We homeschool.
I am a single parent.

I am physically present.  I am physically present with my kids all day, almost every day – 98% of their life is spent with me.  However, I am not always emotionally or mentally present.  This is my conviction.  It is not good enough, right, or okay to not be emotionally or mentally present for my children.  After all, God entrusted them to my care here on earth, and as humans created in God’s image we crave relationship.  When the mental state of our home is me just being there (as in adult on duty) for too many days in a row, it starts to show in my childrens’ attitude and outlook on life.  I start to get frustrated with the kids, until I realize, once again, it is my fault.  It is my fault because by my not being emotionally or mentally available leaves them feeling left unattended, which they only know to respond to negatively.  I can’t help but compare this to myself: When I “feel” like I don’t feel God in my life, I get cranky.  {The difference, this is my fault too!}


Thankfully, it’s never Him, my Heavenly Father, who isn’t available to me; it’s the result of me not making my appointment with Him.  I have learned over the years in my single parenting walk – I don’t function without daily time with my Heavenly Father.  Some see my “dedication” and are impressed.  When someone says this to me I always feel really awkward.  Usually, this statement is in a moment of the person who is speaking not feeling good enough.  I often say, my daily time is not really is not a result of my dedication, but of my desperation.  My desperation for my Heavenly Father to carry me through each day.  I am incapable of getting through each day {some days it is each moment & hour} without leaning very heavily on He, who is present. Always, He is present.  He doesn’t ever leave us or forsake us {Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous.  Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you.  He will not leave you or forsake you.”}.  He promises. 

I am going to work on being emotionally and mentally present with others, namely my children; and in particular when we are home together each day.

Other ways to practice this, with others and our family members:

•      Being with each other: Put the cell on silent when visiting with a friend.  Be with them.
•      Being with each other: You don’t always have to answer the phone, text, or emails right then.  Keep them in tight boundaries.  These are tools meant for our convenience, not control us.  If it’s an emergency, they’ll call back.
•      Being with each other might mean doing projects with my children, not just in the same room.  Such as when doing the bathroom re-do, they worked with me.  In the past I’ve just done it on my own.
•      Being with each other might mean stopping what I’m doing {for the hundredth time} to look at them when they are talking to me.  So I am with them in the conversation.  Really listening.  Not just hearing.
•      Being with each other might be in the form of watching a movie with my kids, not working on the computer while sitting with them and them are watching.
•      Being with each other might be in the practice of cleaning, doing chores, and over all up-keep of our home together.  So we can all enjoy the benefits and feel more fulfilled by taking part in keeping everything running smoothly.
These are all courtesies and evidence of respect I expect; so I need to lead by example.

I am putting a challenge out there for all of us as women, whether it is in our day-to-day life at home or out and about in the community, will you join me in being present?

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