I love time-lapse photography. I am grateful to this family for putting up a video clip that so closely resembles the way the holidays feel for me. Actually, any point of the year when all three of our children are home feels just like this.
Motion
Mess
Motion
Mess
Motion
You get the picture. I know I only have the mess because of their motion, and I intend to take time regularly to remind myself that I WILL MISS THE MOTION.
There will be stillness in this house…eventually. There will be times of silence…eventually. Those things that I safely store on the counter will actually stay put…eventually.
I don’t want to make that motionless time come any closer than it already has.
Our oldest is 11. The other day he pointed out that he is already more than half done with his time in our home.
I don’t want to believe that. I want to believe that the motion will stay this way forever.
I absolutely know better.
I didn’t really make a new year’s resolution this year, except that I want to yogify my life. As part of that process I intend to be in the moment. It means I embrace each part of my life, whether it is the motion… or the mess.
My little mess-makers are making messes back in their classrooms today, and I have had a few minutes to contemplate (clean) and give thanks.
I’m moved to gratitude for the motion… and the mess… in our home.
I’m moved to offer comfort and prayers for the local families who have to deal with the sudden loss of motion.
For the family and friends of a 3-year-old Minneapolis boy who was killed by a stray bullet, and for the family and friends of a 16-year-old Benilde-St. Margaret hockey player who lies motionless in a hospital bed after a check into the boards.
There is motion and mess in my house, but there is motion and mess outside of my house too. Perspective only comes when we can see the whole picture.
Motion leads to mess, but it matters most how we decide to be moved by the life around us.
How will you be moved this week?
Copyright 2012 Choosing to Grow- Meagan Frank
To learn more about Meagan Frank, you can visit her at her website: www.meaganfrank.com
Meagan Frank 
I loved this, Meagan. I never quite thought it that way as motion and mess. To everything there is a season, right? My oldest is 15 already an I remember being so stressed out by all his messes and how I was always picking up and nothing was organized. Now he is hardly ever home. My youngest is 13. I don’t have much long with them and it makes me sad and I am FINALLY appreciating what you just wrote about.
Thanks Michael Ann.
I wish it would make the leaving easier to enjoy the time they are here, but I feel we will probably both end up in the same place at the end. Sad our kids have left and missing the messes. Thanks for weighing in.
I can tell you are going to be a go-to gal for me for my 3rd CTG book. I won’t be starting it until 2013, but it is going to be about food 🙂 MMF