Treasure the Quiet Moments

After reading Holli's blog tonight about hectic days, trying to get everything done that is waiting to be done, and raising a family brought to my mind this thought-do any of us really treasure the quiet moments?

We live in a world where everything is created to get things done quickly, faster than it has ever been done before. I think of my years of growing up and having to use a hand can opener. Now I have one that goes on top of the can, you push a button, and zoom, the lid is off. I remember hanging out laundry on the line outside the back door on a clear, crisp day because there was no dryer in our house. I remember climbing two flights of stairs in Okinawa to get to the roof so that I could hang my laundry on the lines. Now, I throw everything into the dryer, push a button and in just moments my laundry is dry even on a rainy day. But, with all of these modern gadgets that are supposed to be giving us more time, what am I doing with that time?

The scriptures say that we should run and not be weary and walk and not faint. Yet, in this fast paced world of ours we just keep going, and going, and going just like the Energizer Bunny. And as this world of ours is zooming by, we are forgetting to take some time to treasure the quiet moments. I was foolish to believe that when the house was empty there would be so many quiet moments that I would just lounge around and be a lady of leisure. If all of you young people are waiting for the quiet moments to happen, stop waiting. They are passing you by and you do not even realize it. Look for them, look really, really hard if you have to in order to find them. The laundry, the cleaning, the shopping, or whatever you feel is standing in your way can all be put aside for another day. I hate to use the old adage "stop and smell the roses"; but if you don't stop, you will never smell the roses. You will never have the memories of picnicking on your living room floor with your little ones. There will be no memories of lounging around and watching movies, eating popcorn, and giggling.

Even at my age, I do not get a lot of quiet moments to treasure. There is no such thing as an empty nest. My life is still zooming by. But, I am learning that I, too, have to put some things aside; sometimes I have to say no to family; sometimes I have to ignore the phone. Do I feel guilty? I used to, but not anymore. I, too, deserve some quiet moments by myself to veg, to do my counted cross stitching, watch a show or movie, or whatever it is that I want to do in that moment.

So, treasure the quiet moments. Ponder, dream, relax, enjoy!