October 11, 2009

Parenting for the Future: Stopping to Smell the Flowers



This time, like all times, is a very good one, if we but know what to do with it.

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

So many beautiful things in this world... and so little time to enjoy them. This rose has been on my mind lately. It reminded me to 'smell the flowers' in a much larger and more general sense. I mean, we all are busy, right? But the busy-ness is not why we are here. We're here to be fruitful.

Fruits grow. They ripen. They smell lovely. They bask in the sunshine. They soak up the rain. Fruits are good at doing what God made them to do... nourishing people, being beautiful, thriving on the vine.

There's a sermon in there somewhere. Ahem.

With my nose stuffed in this heaven-sent masterpiece of pink scent and softness; I realized that I'm loosing time - time to spend on what is truly important.

The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time is now.

~ Unknown

I asked myself... "How much time do I have?" ...and... "How will I use it?"

Help us not to waste our lives' precious time with useless endeavors.

~ Robin Sampson, author of Heart of Wisdom Teaching Approach

As a homeschool mother, I'm determined to build the best in to my children. The best roses are fertilized, trimmed, cared for. What do I need to give them - or give up for them? What do I need to trim from our garden - can I identify the weeds that are keeping us from the glory God intended?

Am I willing to spend time in the garden?

Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

~ Psalm 90:12

Flowers may not be able to talk, but the fragrance of roses on the wind in my back yard and this lovely pastel visitor in my kitchen certainly were speaking to my heart today. They taught me all these things through the Holy Spirit in a brief moment - through a smell, a glance, a touch. I pondered them in my heart.

Tomorrow my rose will be wilted, but I am determined not to forget the message. I'll be working on ways to redeem the time in my homeschool, my household, my life. How about you? Don't let the chance to savor the beauty of what you are given slip away.

Gather ye rosebuds while you may, Old time is still a flying, And that same flower that smiles today, Tomorrow will be dying.

~ Robert Herrick

Carpe Diem. Seize the day.

5 comments:

Tracy said...

Beautiful! I have just recently been learning this...but as well as Fruitful (deeds), we also need to be fragrant (spiritual blessings). This is living a balanced life before God and man!

The greatest example is a Citrus Tree (lemon, orange lime...etc) They are both Fruitful and Fragrant! The perfect balance!

Kellye said...

Wow! Great post. I have been dealing with letting time rush by and slip away to quickly here lately! This is just what I needed to hear this morning.

I have just started to follow your blog and have been very inspired and refreshed by your posts!!

Thanks :)

Mom of Many Hats said...

Very insightful post!

Blessings,
Amy
http://homeplatefun.blogspot.com

Cindy said...

Beautiful! A rose bringing "scent"iments. :) Thanks for sharing such a lovely post.

sarasophia said...

You said it perfectly.
It is so easy to get rushed in the the requirements, the lists, the endless stream of papers and lessons.

But our job is to grow character and soul from the earth-dirt we are born in.

I am so glad to have such an encouraging friend as you on my journey as a Mother.

I miss you.

-Sara Sophia

 

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