At 7:56 Sunday evening I hopped in the car with my oldest son to quickly run to town and check my post office box. We had been out of town for a few days and I was trying to start the week organized.
Just as we were leaving he realized he forgot something and ran back into the house.
Waiting in the car, I grabbed my phone, because what else are you going to do when you are stuck waiting for 2 minutes in the car, right?
But I had just heard a brief discussion with Sara Hagerty (You guys. I am sure to tell you more about all of this later, but her latest book comes out next month and it’s incredible!) where she talked about how to invite God into our in-between moments. I don’t remember her exact words but she was talking about her tendency to pick up her phone and maybe scroll Instagram or check e-mail while she was nursing her baby.
We might not all be nursing a baby, but we all have those in-between moments, right? I knew exactly what she was talking about.
But her question, her challenge, was this:
What if we put down our phones and decided to invite God into that moment instead? What might that look like?
Her gentle prodding caught my attention. This wasn’t any giant social media fast, no flag-waving, foot-stomping battle cry, just a simple invitation. What if we traded a few of those moments, a few of those distractions and were a little more mindful with our time?
Sitting in my car now, I stopped short and set my phone back down. I asked God about 7:56pm on a Sunday. Could you really have something for me here, at 7:56, God? These two minutes I have while my kid runs inside, do they matter to you?
I asked God to bless these precious alone minutes I would have, running to town with only my oldest boy. And I left it at that.
My son hopped in the car and I never thought another thing of it. We talked about the hanging baskets that are overflowing and awkward right now and we made other small talk while we drove the few miles to town. But then he asked if I noticed those two women at lunch – the one who had an eye-catching slit up the side of her dress and the other whose dress was completely backless.
Yes, I noticed. I had forgotten about it until now, but I noticed.
“Is it good for ladies to dress that way, mom?”, he asked innocently, sincere.
And then God just unfolded the most beautifully organic conversation. We talked about about our innate hunger to be seen and known. We discussed what humility looks like, what modesty of the heart looks like, and what loving others right where they are looks like.
It wasn’t until our drive home that I remembered, I had invited God into 7:56. He had work for me to do at 7:56. He needed me to be aware, mindful of Him, at 7:56 pm on a Sunday.
I’m not sure how many times I’ve missed Him, friend, how many times I’ve chosen mindless scrolling when I could have chosen a moment with Him. But I’m thankful for this timely reminder.
Can we bravely ask ourselves these questions today?
How can we make a little more room for Him today? How can we invite him into our small, in between moments?
What if it matters more than we even realize?
Here is to re-claiming more minutes and inviting Him into all of it. Bravely.
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Thank you, Katie, for sharing this. I needed it so.
My pleasure, Brittany. <3
I love it,I find myself spending way too much time on the phone/computer sometimes and after I feel guilty.Not only is it taking time from our families but most importantly God.Thanks for the reminder to include Him into our lives in the in-between moments.
Exactly, Jennifer. Clearly, I have been there too! And it can be a tough balance because these tools are helpful as well. But making the simple goal of inviting Him in a little more often, making that trade a little more often, is proving helpful. I hope it is for you too.
As always your blog brought memories to me as a young mom with two infants only one year apart. Upon bringing the newest baby girl home my other just barely one year old decided she wanted to be a baby too. Now she wanted on my lap to be fed at the same time new little sister was being fed. I didn’t nurse but always held my infants as I fed the with a bottle so not to miss the bonding that took place during that time. I never liked “propping” bottle feedings. So big sister wanted what little sister was getting and I tried to acknowledge that by pulling her up on my lap and giving her a little bottle of water (we didn’t have “sippey cups” back then). This took away from me the time I had been using to get caught up on my reading so instead I learned to use the time to talk to God. Both babies didn’t know what I was saying out loud, but responded as I prayed over them, with contentment as they listened to my words while being fed. I didn’t realize it then but we three were getting the nourishment we needed!
What a beautiful habit, Shirley. I hate to think of all of the minutes I wasted while I was nursing babies. But when we know better, we can do better, right? Starting now. And I also appreciate your Titus 2 perspective here, Shirley. We are all blessed by your comments. <3
What a great reminder. As I read this, I thought of what I should be doing besides reading another blog post…and it came to me…
This was a good reminder to not only take the few minutes I waste and give them to God, but a few of those minutes could also be used to doing something for my husband. We’re retired, working as carpenter missionaries. He was, as I read this article outside, working on our RV. I stopped reading, went to the freezer and got out the container of ice cream and two spoons and we had a ten-minute break, ten minutes to share ice cream and snatch two kisses I wouldn’t have had…Thank you for this article…
Margaret, this is perfect. I love it! You encourage me to keep praying that God will help me notice all of the moments, and not miss the opportunities.
I can think of times I’ve invited God into a moment and He always shows up, yet I don’t do this nearly enough. What a great challenge to do it more! Thank you.
Right there with you, Kira. I’m trying to journal the reminders lately. Just a sentence or two even, so I can look back and reminded. Maybe that would be helpful to you as well?
I loved your story today, the conversation with your son. I have been very mindful of car time with my daughter, as we have a long school commute daily. We have our best conversations in the car, just the two of us. During our most recent conversation, she told me that she talks to God and she can hear Him talking back to her. She even said, “it’s not praying, we’re just talking.” I told her I have those talks with God too, and the more she opens up and shares her feelings with God, the more open she will be to hearing Him always. Often our conversations remind me of what I need to be doing more! Thank you so for your continued reminders for us mommies/wives to choose brave.
Amy, this is so great! Did your heart just melt when she said “we’re just talking”. So sweet! I am a bit of a homebody and moving into this season with older kids, which has translated into much more running (ie. car time) has not been my favorite. But I just heard an older mom mention the other day how she loved living in the country because the long car rides to town provided for a captivate audience, rich memories with audiobooks together and great conversations. And it dawned on me how there is still so much quality time I can be mindful with, I just need to look at it differently and stop mourning what it used to look like. You are already two steps ahead of me here! 🙂
Hi! I found your blog tonight through your mother.ly post about having a dog, which totally caught my eye as we hope to have a dog one day, too. I’m always looking for new and inspiring blogs to read, so when I went to your website, I was so excited to find one just in your most recent post. Thank you for writing this! I feel so challenged by this and also encouraged as I’m about to have our second baby in a couple months and nursing again! Thanks heaps!
I love how the internet connects us in such meandering ways, Ashley. I wish I had figured this out when I was nursing my second baby – you are already miles ahead of me! 🙂 Wishing you the best in these last few months of your pregnancy. And welcome!
Hi, I stumbled on your blog post tonight after coming back from a trip to the ER with my son. Today I chose to seek Him purposely during a very traumatic and scary ordeal and I was blessed with peace. I can attest to your belief that God wants us to be aware and alert through certain times. If I had not invited Him to be with us through that difficult time, I may have lost an opportunity to work on my patience, keeping my peace, and emerging victorious and unblemished from the trial. Thank you for your post, it strengthens my devotion to the Lord and encourages me to keep pursuing Him, especially in my in between times. Today I had a bad experience that was turned for good because I kept my peace and trusted Him. All because I invited God in.
Wow, I’m thanking God right along with you, Lucy. These habits we form in the quiet and middle moments become our lifeline in the big and scary ones as they shape our reflexes to find Him in the midst of it all. Clearly, you had done your homework. <3 Thank you for sharing; I'm so glad you stumbled here. 🙂