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As has been happening for over eight years, I was putting a child down for nap. For the past few weeks, as I get up from singing a song next to him, Malachi asked me to stay. Most of the time, I tell him I no because I either need to go pick up his siblings from school, or there’s other things I want to do. Occasionally I’ll lay with him for another minute or two.
This time, when he asked me and I told him I have things to get done, he squeezes my fingers in his soft, sweet hands, making sure he had as firm a grip as a two year old can. I decided to just lay my cheek down on his hand and enjoy this precious time, resting with him for a little longer than I planned.
And it makes more sense why Jesus said what He said (as pretty much everything He says does when we open ourselves up to the Truth):
“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”
Luke 10:41-42
Yes it’s important to get the laundry done, the dishes put away, and the house cleaned up. To prep meals, exercise, get work done… But if I let those things keep me from being present to God, or the people God has blessed me with, than I have chosen the lesser thing.
I need to do better at not treating prayer time like I do putting a kid down for nap – let’s just get it done with so I can move on to the things I “really” need/want to do. I need to learn to just sit and be joyfully present and at rest.
We can’t always sit with Jesus, however we can do better to make it a priority. If we allow ourselves to be present and focus on Him, we can focus better on who He wants us to be present to.
