I was raised to believe that Sunday was supposed to be a day of rest and peace. Happy families hold hands and their children reverently sit through all three hours of church...that's right....all THREE hours. Anyway...its supposed to be a peaceful day full of happy family time naps and spiritual enlightenment. Yeah right....
Every morning it's the same thing. We wake up late...we rush through the motions of getting everyone ready which ends up making me anxious and then it never fails that there is at least one major argument about something incredibly stupid before we make it out the door to church....there goes peaceful right there. Then we get to church...I look around at all of the families of perfectly dressed children sitting with arms folded next to their equally coiffed parents. And then I look down at my dress that already has the kids breakfast all over my left shoulder...Jacks un-tucked shirt...and Layla's bare feet and messy face (I sware I cleaned it) and all I can do is sigh. It gets very quiet as the first speaker begins his/her talk...and then it happens. Jack takes Layla's cup or Layla grabs Jacks crayon...and the blood curdling screams begin. I'm sure everyone is thinking...oh there's the Pfeffer kids...lovely. Our goal is to make it past sacrament (i.e. just the bread and water...not even the speakers) before meltdowns begin. Believe me this is a lofty goal. Today was no different. As if on cue as soon the water passed our row it began...I don't even know what set if off this time but Layla began to scream....the looks from those around us started...and Jason swiftly swung her under one arm and practically football ran her out of the chapel. At last...for me...peace.
I have asked myself on countless times why do we even bother? We never make it through the meetings without meltdowns and 90% of the time I cant tell you what any of the speakers said. Well today even though I missed half of what was said...I was truly able to feel peace. During the opening song we sang Did You Think To Pray. Ive sang this song many many times before, but today it brought me to tears. I truly believe every word of this song. And I felt for a small moment, between all the chaos, that perfect peace that shows us how much our Heavenly Father loves us. Church today was worth that small moment of peace and I am so thankful for it. And even though I question why we bother...it is those moments of peace that confirm to me why I get up early every Sunday morning and take my hyper playful little children to a three hour church meeting. Because I know someday they will feel those feelings of peace too...and that is a gift only God can give.
Life with small children is in one word chaos. But in between all the crying, tears, and meltdowns...there are many small moments of peace if I just take time to notice. I hope this is something that I can teach my children...to slow down and take time to feel peace between the worlds chaos.
Here is a link to the Mormon tabernacle choir singing Did You Think To Pray. May it bring anyone who reads this simple blog a small moment of peace.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgQoZG_J_qc
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment