I am reading the best book in the world right now. It speaks to my soul. I am being serious. The author, Glennon Melton is on my wave length. She speaks the truth & I dig it. I've included below one of my favorite snippets from the book. It's really changed my perspective in regards to this thing we call TIME. Yep. I have a love/hate relationship with time and these few paragraphs describe it perfectly.
Begin.
There are two different types of time. Chronos time is what we live in. It's regular time, it's one minute at a time, it's staring down the clock till bedtime time, it's ten excruciating minutes in the Target line time, it's four screaming minutes in time out time, it's two hours till daddy gets home time. Chronos is the hard, slow passing time we parents often live in.
Then there's Kairos time. Kairos is God's time. It's time outside of time. It's metaphysical time. It's those magical moments in which time stands still. I have a few of those moments each day. And I cherish them.
Like when I actually stop what I'm doing and really look at Tish. I notice how perfectly smooth and brownish her skin is. I notice the perfect curves of her teeny elf mouth and her asianish brown eyes, and I breathe in her soft Tishy smell. In these moments, I see that her mouth is moving but I can't hear her because all I can think is -- This is the first time I've really seen Tish all day, and my God -- she is so beautiful. Kairos.
Like when I'm stuck in chronos time in the grocery line and I'm haggard and annoyed and angry at the slow check-out clerk. And then I look at my cart and I'm transported out of chronos. And suddenly I notice the piles and piles of healthy food I'll feed my children to grow their bodies and minds and I remember that most of the world's mamas would kill for this opportunity. This chance to stand in a grocery line with enough money to pay. And I just stare at my cart. At the abundance. The bounty. Thank you, God. Kairos.
Or when I curl up in my cozy bed with Theo asleep at my feet and Craig asleep by my side and I listen to them both breathing. And for a moment, I think- how did a girl like me get so lucky? To go to bed each night surrounded by this breath, this love, this peace, this warmth? Kairos.
These kairos moments leave as fast as they come- but I mark them. I say the word kairos in my head each time I leave chronos. And at the end of the day, I don't remember exactly what my kairos moments were, but I remember I had them. And that makes the pain of the daily parenting climb worth it.
If I had a couple Kairos moments during the day, I call it a success.
End.
I can whole heartedly agree and relate with chronos & kairos time. I am taking my time to recognize those moments as often as possible. Here are a few of my own kairos moments as of late....
1. texas rainstorms are no joke. i love them. clearly lyla & max are pretty fond of them as well. the rain was pouring and they were running up and down the driveway laughing so hard. lyla was begging me to join them and i kept saying, "naaah. i will just stay here and watch." then I said to myself, "hey self, what else are you doing right now? don't be such a square!"
we played for nearly an hour. no regrets about that decision!
2. lyla loves the carousel at the mall. she loved it a year ago too.
however, it took her a very long time to build the courage to actually sit on an animal.
the first few rides we enjoyed the view from the senior citizen/infant bench.
i'm proud of her & her carousel progress.
3. cousin bonding time is so special.
last week hali crowned queen lyla.
lyla had no problem playing the role of royalty.
hali is so sweet, she even included maxwell in the grand entrance.
4. children's museum = best $5 ever spent.
imagination goes into overdrive at this place!
5. lyla is in a new phase of getting herself dressed.
i usually offer my style advice and leave it at that.
exploring her wardrobe is an essential part of growing up,
there just might be a future fashion designer in the making.
this day consisted of backward overalls & a skirt.
yes, we went in public like this. haha!
6. oh maxwell, i don't believe there is one ounce of fear in that tiny body.
7. she is looking way too sassy & grown up in this picture.
i can't stare at it for too long or my heart starts to do that swelly thing.
she is going to turn three in four short months.
i am having a hard time with that.
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