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taking time


i was standing at the sink peeling potatoes when chloe [5] and anika [4] came and asked me to help. we had been preparing for a Fall celebration meal that day and had enjoyed doing everything together. for a split second, i considered telling them no...to go play. every mom knows that it would go much faster by myself. but, i didn't. i happily dug out 2 more peelers and we got to work.

we peeled, i re-adjusted their angles, we laughed as a wild peel flew onto anika's neck...then chloe said, "mom? how do i have jesus in my heart forever?"

i explained to her again how that could happen. she agreed that she believes that Jesus was born from Virgin Mary on Christmas day. that He lived a sin free life and died on the cross for her sins. that He rose on Easter and is in heaven now with God. i asked her what it is to sin and she replied, "doing anything bad that Jesus doesn't want you to do...like lying or not sharing." finally she said, "yes, i believe all that. i wanna pray for Him to be in my heart forever!" we did.

what a beautiful day....AND a beautiful reminder to me that the most important, precious things in my life can happen when taking time to peel potatoes with my girls. when taking time to choose quality over efficiency. selflessness over selfishness. love over indifference. grace over exasperation. oh how the little things ARE the very biggest of things.




photos taken from phone when we went out to celebrate
by getting her a new Bible, cupcake and hot cocoa!

[committed to blogging how we found Clay starting tomorrow!]
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Comments

  1. Lainey-PaneyOctober 12, 2009 at 8:40 PM

    and those are the days that you feel like you've done something right...

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  2. Corinne CunninghamOctober 12, 2009 at 9:08 PM

    What a wonderfully sweet story!

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  3. KateOctober 12, 2009 at 10:36 PM

    What a beautiful moment to have!

    It really is important to sometimes take the time of sharing with your kids a task rather than sending them away to be able to do it quickly. It's definitely how I hope to parent someday!

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  4. AubsOctober 13, 2009 at 12:14 AM

    i have chills....LOVE this! What a sweet sweet story that will be a forever memory!

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  5. ErinOctober 13, 2009 at 7:50 AM

    How very sweet. Thanks for the reminder that even the little moments may turn into big ones!

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  6. JennOctober 13, 2009 at 8:48 AM

    beautiful Love. write the date in her bible so she will always have it as a reminder...or even write out a little letter to her in the front page...telling the story.

    childlike faith is amazing isn't it? if we could keep it simple and remember that faith as adults life would be so much easier :)

    thinking of you!
    Jenn

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  7. jodesOctober 13, 2009 at 8:55 AM

    I got chills reading that! What an incredible story. i love that God can show up and do something amazing even when peeling potatoes.

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  8. nicOctober 13, 2009 at 9:18 AM

    oh, Love. what a striking example of how the smallest right choices often yield eternal rewards.

    i'll say it again: you are the best kind of mama. we may be the same age, but i want to grow up to be just like you.

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  9. MarcelaOctober 13, 2009 at 3:06 PM

    It is so true! Thanks for posting this! I am guilty of telling Jeremiah to go play on nights that Im busy, when he has asked to help. You just reminded me of a lot. I guess we sometimes don't realize it.

    Are you reading a childrens Bible or regular Bible with Chloe? How much does she understand? Sorry for the questions! but I want to know if maybe I should move on from the children's edition with Jeremiah.

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  10. Stephanie Wilson she/her @babystephOctober 13, 2009 at 4:33 PM

    OH Lovelyn, this is precious.

    Steph

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  11. ElyseOctober 13, 2009 at 4:59 PM

    how precious and awesome!! you are so right.

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  12. GillianOctober 13, 2009 at 7:59 PM

    Aughhhh! Your post just made me cry! What a beloved moment!!!! You are one blessed momma!!!! ENJOY these amazing days!

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  13. Mrs. ClineOctober 14, 2009 at 11:54 AM

    What sweet girls you have.

    I love learning from you, for when I have children one day.

    We must not take the teachable moments for granted.

    Thank you for being in my life. :)

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  14. LoveOctober 14, 2009 at 7:29 PM

    thank you everyone! i love, love, love hearing from you. =)

    marcela--we typically read to them from a kid's bible. they do learn verses by heart and we take a lot of time making sure that they aren't just memorizing them, but that they really know what they mean. so, we use the adult bibles to look up those verses and so they can just used to that process of looking up things. she did choose an adult bible when we went out this night. she's asked to read some from it daily and we choose small bits because it takes LOTS of explaining to break it down for her! =)

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  15. NellOctober 15, 2009 at 9:24 PM

    Every time I come here I cry!

    Nell

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  16. Kate @ Bliss and ThatOctober 17, 2009 at 1:56 PM

    Oh, how awesome!!! She's just precious...

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