Rushing to leave the house quickly to pick up my youngest from preschool, I ran out into the garage and pulled my house door shut behind me. Right as the door went “click”; I realized I’d left my keys on the kitchen counter. Oops. We have never kept a key hidden on the property because I am just too paranoid for that and have never gotten around to giving one to a neighbor like at our old house.
Thankfully, I had my phone with me, so I made a couple of calls and arranged for my mom to pick up Birdie and come unlock my house. I hung up and suddenly realized I had an hour to kill outside by myself with nothing in particular to do. It was a strange feeling to suddenly have nowhere to go, no one with me and nothing to accomplish. I remembered my magazines I keep in the car for carpool and took them around to my front porch to sit. In the two years we’ve lived in this house, I have never once sat in my big wicker chairs decorating our wraparound porch. Very sad, I know, but I did discover they are very comfortable as well as good looking.
As I sat there, I realized what a beautiful day it was; nice and cool with a clear blue sky. My thoughts kept coming back to the idea that I really needed this break, to take the time out and do nothing. Even though I had my iPhone on me with all its glory and connectivity, I didn’t use it. Instead, I just sat and enjoyed doing nothing, just flipping absentmindedly through my magazines watching the cars drive by the house.
In that hour, I realized this “break” is necessary in my life. It was rejuvenating and calming to be still. A smile came across my face as I realized this was God’s way of telling me to enjoy life and remind me that I do have time to be quiet and still.
When I saw my mom’s minivan come around the corner, a part of me was sad. Even though I knew she brought me lunch and my precious daughter, I really didn’t want to go inside and leave that moment. God, in his infinite wisdom, found a way to speak to me in a manner I would hear clearly and understand. I’ll admit that it’s been a few weeks since I locked myself out and I haven’t been back to my porch to sit, but I am making much more of an effort to be still, quiet and thank the Lord for all his blessings in my life every day.
