Revise Your Story
CELEBRATE This Week [No. 232]
More and more I’ve been making breakfast before I leave. They come to the table and eat when it works in their morning routine. I don’t micromanage to have them all at the table at the same time.
I’m getting better at the breakfast gig. I’m learning the small things that make them feel special. Blackberries on the girls’ plates. Orange juice for Jay. Chocolate milk materials lined up for Sam to make his own.
Making breakfast doesn’t take very long. It’s a matter of minutes to scramble eggs and make cinnamon toast. Even on the most rushed mornings, I can find time to make breakfast. It makes their days go better.
Midweek, these guys gave me pause as they sat at the breakfast table. I first noticed the giggles and the gentle conversation. They were all at the table, unrushed and chatting. I stopped doing the dishes and took it all in.
No one was catty or irritable or critical. No one was withdrawn or grumpy. No one was being goofy or dramatic.
They were comfortable and at ease.
I almost didn’t take a picture because I thought the table was too messy. I snapped a picture anyway, because the moment mattered too much. To reach a point where they are comfortable being together, that is something I want to document. This is a major revision in our story.
Many mornings someone is critical, someone is irritable, someone is hurt and someone is withdrawn. This is not our final story.
And our story isn’t the messy table and burnt out light bulb. Sam painted a bible verse on a canvas the night before. He put it in a gift bag and gave it to Hannah as encouragement. No one reminded him to clean up his mess because Andy was at youth group with the girls, and Jay was helping me put together a new bed frame.
Our story is being revised. It doesn’t end with critical and irritable children any more than our kitchen table is still a mess. Sam cleaned up the table, and we keep revising the way our story goes.
It’s a story of being a forever family saved by grace.
This post is part of a weekly offering to celebrate in the middle of the muddle. I hope you join the celebration!
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What a beautiful mindset for the future of your family: Our story is being revised. And it will continue to have revisions and changes and ups and downs —- all making these amazing kids who they are: a beautiful gift from God to your family and the world! To be honest, I didn’t even notice the messy table or burnt light … I saw love in a busy home that settled together in a moment. I’m glad you took that photo…to document the revision. What a celebration, Ruth! And as always, thank you for sharing your story!
When I read your words “I can find time to make breakfast. It makes their days go better,” I thought, Yes, yes, and when their days go better so do ours! I love your closing line; it is very powerful: “It’s a story of being a forever family saved by grace.”
Thanks for sharing this personal, though happy moment. Raising teenagers and almost teenagers is hard. And when you add their personal backstories, really hard. To find these moments in your day has to bring you JOY.
“And our story isn’t the messy table and burnt out light bulb.” Not at all. That is exactly what matters least. I’m so glad you shared this and that you took the picture. Those real moments are so worthy of praise and preservation. Something to look back on and build on.
I looked at the picture and noticed the kids and their engagement with each other. Then I read and you mentioned messy table. I had to scroll back to see if that was true. Then you mention burned out light, again I had to look back. I saw what was important in the photo and you did too when you took it. Happy St. Pat’s Day to you and yours!
I noticed your “messy table” too, but had to return to see the mess. I think it’s okay, Ruth, four kids eating and enjoying each other, with their mom bustling about in the background. I see ‘content’, ready for a nice day.I’m glad you took the picture to capture this sweet moment!
I hear you saying we have to be intentional about looking for the moments of grace. Thank you for this reminder. I need it every day!
That picture says so much about grace and family – just beautiful, Ruth.
I think that time to sit around at a table is SO important. As Tara says before me, this picture does speak of the importance of grace and family. Thank you for sharing this moment!
What a powerful ending, Ruth. My best to your forever family.=>”Our story is being revised. It doesn’t end with critical and irritable children any more than our kitchen table is still a mess. Sam cleaned up the table, and we keep revising the way our story goes.
It’s a story of being a forever family saved by grace.”