Day 18: Just Be

Ulrich took an afternoon shift to give me some extra work time. I came home late. Setting down my stuff and quickly scarfing food, I sat down on the floor to let the boys have some undivided attention before bedtime.

I sat there on the floor of Eddie's room for an hour and half. I didn't move. Didn't check my phone. Didn't take the lead in play. I just sat. In pace with the kids we drifted from one activity to the next. They brought me toys. I played.

As bedtime neared, I asked Eddie to clean his room before we read books for the night. To my surprise, his lately defiant self happily began cleaning. Andrew helped. Then they settled right into story time. Andrew took medicine and bottle and went to sleep easily as I rocked him. Eddie quickly said prayers after books and didn't get up after I left his room.

I pondered it. Why was is so easy tonight?

I filled their cups. Just me. No elaborate activities. No adventures. No high effort on my part. Just sitting, fully present was enough to make them feel loved, acknowledged and attended to.

Faith can be like that too. Sometimes we don't need miracles. We don't need elaborate church. We don't need deep insight or revelation. Sometimes, we just need to sit and be ourselves with God and know that God is fully present with us in that comfortable space.