This past week in school, we were reading about the introduction of steamboats and railroads in America. Something within that reading resonated with me as it was mentioned over and over again…Americans need for SPEED.
The book we were reading from talked of how this was strictly an American pattern that proved to be appalling to the slower, more methodical Europeans. Americans invented all sorts of contraptions – no matter how flimsy they proved to be – in order to do things faster and faster and faster.
It was this little history lesson that got me thinking about it’s application all across American culture. I’ve written before about our need to slow down and simplify, but I never thought of it as an American sickness that has permeated our culture to the core for many, many years.
And then it hit me…
We speed through our parenting as well.
I find myself slacking in the world of parenting because I’m too busy to take care of something right then and there.
I homeschool at the speed of sound too, simply because I want to finish one thing so we can move on to another.
I am the world’s most efficient grocery shopper, racing up and down the aisles, irritated by my lolly-gagging husband and children. I have to make a conscious effort to SLOW DOWN (except when I am pregnant). Then, and only then, my “condition” slows my life down for me.
I am always amazed at how my days seem to be more relaxed when I am pregnant. I seem to have time for naps and foot massages from my children. I sit more, I watch nature more, I rest more. All because I figure I’ll catch back up when I’m no longer pregnant.
But why must my life be one series of events after another…always with a destination in mind?
So often, I just want things done so I can move them off my plate and add something else to the plate. My life is a series of tasks strung together by a thread of efficiency and speed.
But, does God really intend our lives to be spent racing around?
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us ~Hebrews 12:1
At first glance, you would think God does intend for life to be a race, but notice the word “endurance?” This race we run is not about SPEED, it’s about stamina…pacing ourselves to win.
I should be going slow enough as to see the opportunities the Lord places in my life and seize them!
One place I can make a conscious effort to slow down is in my parenting, which naturally spreads into my homeschooling.
Here are some things I am doing right here, right now to purposely slow things down when it comes to being mommy to my children…
Take time for the extras in homeschooling.
Things like mini-unit studies, fun hands-on activities I didn’t think I had the time for, schooling outside (even though it requires time to pull out blankets to sit on), etc.
Taking time for character training.
When problems arise, I should be ready and willing to gently nip them in the bud. And I shouldn’t put academics before character.
Putting God’s Word above all else.
Academia can wait. The discipleship of my children is MUCH more important than the multiplication tables.
Just simply enjoying them more.
Smiling, laughing, talking WITH my children and not AT them is so very important.
I am determined to shuck the blinders I’ve been wearing that have kept me from seeing the bigger picture for far too long. Won’t you join me?
Celee says
I also “hurry” school out of the fear we won’t accomplish everything we’re “supposed” to. I love the spring when invariably I realize we’re already finished with school (2 months early) and can just take it easy and slowly enjoy learning and one another. Of course, I’m adding to our school even though we’re finished so we can get ahead for next year:) Maybe I’m a lost cause! My favorite part of Sonlight is the time I spend reading aloud to my kids each day. I think I enjoy it more than they do. And we do school outside, too. And school at weird times sometimes so there’s more time for other family fun. I love homeschooling and can tell you our pace is WAY more relaxed than when I worked full-time and had my kids in 4 different classes at 2 different schools. As for running the race with endurance, that could be said of homeschooling, too, couldn’t it? I’ve got a few years to go so I might as well slow down and enjoy them:) Thanks for the reminder!
.-= Celee´s last blog ..Baby steps to homeschool organization =-.
Wendy says
So many things to say, let’s see, where should I begin? Amy, you’re back! Or I’m back! This morning, suddenly, your posts appeared again. I’ve been “walking uphill against a stiff wind” the last weeks, and just posts was about all I could do, so I have fallen off the edge of the earth as to reading very many from others. Then, this week I was catching up, and thought, Amy at Raising Arrows! I haven’t seen anything from her in forever. Then, today, all of a sudden, there you appeared on my Reading List on my dashboard! Boy, have I got some catching up to do in reading your blog! Looking forward to it, though:)
Secondly, love your new look. I’ve been working on a 3-column design, but after seeing your design (oh, agonizing again, I switch to WordPress?? Absolutely hate the thought. Aargghh. And your look is so “clean”. I like that. More organized. Also, I sooooo love commentluv. Well, the Lord will lead. Gotta trust Him. It’s His blog.
Thirdly, when I was pregnant, I thought how interesting it is that God “forces” you through what happens in your body, to do what you to do. Rest. Slow down. I’ve seen what you were writing about (you said, “I should be going slow enough as to see the opportunities the Lord places in my life and seize them!”) when I’ve felt under the weather slightly and slowed way down, and heard the Lord tell me to call or write a note to someone. More than once, that note’s importance and the response from the recipient showed that it was like the loaves and fishes (taken and multiplied beyond anything I could imagine)! And I’ve wondered, how many opportunities have I missed to make a difference, because I was “too busy”, moving too fast, my life was making too much “noise” to hear God whisper in my ear, “I want you to do this.”
Thanks for the reminder. I needed that.
Blessings,
Wendy
Faith’s Firm Foundation
http://www.wendygunn.net
So good to be back–I’ve missed you!
Amy says
Wow! When I moved to WordPress I lost 200 subscribers, but had no way to tell who they were. I’m so glad you are back! As for the move here, it was agonizing, but one that finally had to be made if I wanted to keep blogging. Blogger was eating comments and my blog began to look odd in browsers. I did have to pay to have it moved and the redesign, but honestly, I think it was well worth it!
I love the loaves and fishes analogy! One of my favorite hymns is “Little Is Much When God is In It.” That’s my life…a little that God takes and multiplies!
So good to see you here!
Sherri says
SUCH a great reminder Amy! I have one friend with whom I have discussions about living “in the moment” all the time… and on the other hand I have some close family members that I fear think I’m “lazy” in my simplified, laid back homeschooling approach.
But ultimately, *I* know why I do what I do & am thankful for the ability to slow down & simplify!
.-= Sherri´s last blog ..Modest Swimsuits for Girls: A Hunt… =-.
Mama Mirage says
This is hard for me to wrap my brain around because all my life I’ve been accused of and berated for being too slow, not good enough, and not getting enough done. I have come to feel that unless I’m running around like a chicken with my head off from dawn to dusk (and even then I am told I don’t get enough things done) I am a useless waste of space.
So I have alot of bad programming to overcome here. I will let your post marinate for a while and see what God shows me in this area. Thanks! 🙂
.-= Mama Mirage´s last blog ..Turtles & Tap Dancing – Toddler Tales Tuesday =-.
Tanya @ Little Life Improvements says
Wow – another great post! Your description of always trying to get things done, trying to do things more efficiently – are you sure we haven’t met? Or that you haven’t been peeking in on my life? This is SO me!
It scares me sometimes how much like that I am… I’m so focused on trying get everything right that I find it so hard to just relax and enjoy the moment and just let life happen! Thanks for a great reminder that I really do need to be working to basically TRAIN myself to enjoy all that God has given me! To just enjoy things for the gift that they are – a loving husband, this season of life with my children, and so many other things.
Your blog is so encouraging – thanks for writing!
I do wonder, though, how can you possibly manage to have the time, inspiration, and motivation to even keep up with a blog with all you have going on?!?
.-= Tanya @ Little Life Improvements´s last blog ..Taking Time to Smell the Roses =-.
Amy says
Tanya,
I think being in a hurry and trying to be efficient is the plight of mothers everywhere. I remember my mom feeling like my dad got to be the “fun one” while she always had to be the “bad guy.” By nature, we are multi-taskers.
And yes, this blog does require a lot at times. I love to write so the words come easily. I tend to write during down time in the afternoon when all of us are enjoying a slower pace (and baby is napping). But balance is often hard to find and I must remind myself over and over again that I need to be living life and not simply blogging about it!
Thanks for your words of encouragement!
Grace Wheeler says
Okay…wow. I need to come back and read this later…I’m currently “in a hurry” so I just skimmed this and I keep thinking “this is SO good, I need to come back when I can really digest it”.
So though I’m currently in a hurry, (kids are waking up from naps) I’m promising myself to come back, slow down and re-read!
.-= Grace Wheeler´s last blog ..Losing 30 lbs–Part 5 (What God Did) =-.
hsmominmo says
Hi Amy! I always enjoy getting a peek at what’s on your heart. Your last couple of posts have especially spoken to my own heart – hit me right where I’m at!
I think your Perfect Mother post and this one tie very closely together. Thank you for sharing with us.
Would it be alright if I posted this link on my blog? I have a few family and friends I’d like to point in your direction.
Blessings to you and yours.
Amy says
Absolutely! 🙂
MamaK says
this resonates with last sunday’s sermon. our pastor said “we have too much to do to be busy”, stating we NEED to be spending at least an hour with the Lord a day. kinda hard with kids, but i understand the heart…
Rachel says
It’s always wonderful to remember to slow down, stop and smell the roses. When dh and I moved to Israel for the year, though, we had to about double the pace from our “fast-paced” American life (Going fast is NOT isolated to the US. By Israeli standards, we Americans move like snails!). Let me tell you, the faster you go, the less efficient you become.
Amy says
That’s interesting that you had to move even faster in Israel. I love how you said the faster you go, the less efficient you become! A frenetic pace can’t be kept up for very long without damage somewhere.
Trish Howard says
Wait, were you talking about me or you! This is my everyday struggle, except I become frustrated during my pregnancy because I can no longer keep up with my expectations. I often worry that I am so busy checking my list off, that I forget why I am doing it. Thank you for putting it into words.
~trish