Sometimes when I hear a person tell someone else (or myself) to "enjoy every moment" (usually referring to their children being young/infants/toddlers) I just want to punch something. I won't say that I want to punch someone because that would be going to far. Right?
You see, I started this blog months back with the intention to write once a month to help others that are going through a similar time in life. Not long after I started it my two youngest begain walking (better yet, running). With a two year old leading the pack, they were off to a quick start. They level the house within 20 minutes of being awake every morning. Closets emptied. Cabinets bare. Drawers "re-ogranized". I just don't have many moments to sit at the computer and type. Their nap times are filled with my quiet time, dinner prep, laundry, cleaning (all of the things that won't happen during waking hours). Needless to say, my prayer life has never been better. At least 4 times per minute I say, "God help me."
So, when someone says enjoy every moment I really want to start reeling off every moment to them and see if maybe they would like to come enjoy it all with me. Most definitely there are moments that I enjoy and my heart is so full that I feel like it could explode, but those moments seem to happen a lot less than the ones I am just surviving.
Maybe I am not a good mom and I should learn to enjoy cleaning poop out of the bathtub and out from under finger nails? Oh and I should learn to enjoy multiple children teething at the same time. Yes. That's it! While I am enjoying the chorus of crying I will join in with nails screeching down a chalkboard. Sounds enjoyable at least.
We all have seasons of suffering/hardship. Right now there is a mom of a teenager that is at wit's end or a wife that wants to throw in the towel. I am sure there is a mom to a few toddlers that feels like she may not survive another tantrum trio (not that I know anyone like that).
I guess what I am trying to say is that we should be careful what we tell people to enjoy. They may have had the hardest day of their lives and now feel guilty and inadequate because they do not "feel" a certain way. We can all look back on different seasons of hardship and suffering with a certain level of fondness. Our fondness probably stems mostly from the fact that we grew during that time, but not that we enjoyed every moment of it.
Just keep in mind that when someone is in a hard season they don't want to hear how they should enjoy it. They need to hear that they can endure it.
Just a few things that help me endure the hardest days: Jake's laugh & our crazy conversations (toddler talk), Cole's pouty face & the way he runs to greet me, the way Cal throws his head back to laugh & his mischevious grin....these little things help me make it until the next enjoyable moment.
"We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Thessalonians 1:3
