Efficiency in Mothering {Mindful Mothering Mondays}

We're sitting before a crackling fire when she shares it with me, a revelation of sorts.

"I've realized that maybe God doesn't call us to be efficient.  That if, at the end of the day, we didn't get it all done, everything we thought we should, because of interruptions or needing to help this person or that - maybe that was God's plan for our day all along."

I sip coffee and nod, pondering, looking at her words through the lens of her life.  Could it be true?  This thing that we hold up as a virtue, could it possibly not be?

In our modern world, each family home has many machines for efficiency.  Gone are the days of washboards and wood stoves.  We've found ways to make everything move more quickly so we can fit in more.  More life, or so we are told.  By delegating this and that we can take on more and doesn't taking on more mean living more?  We wake up early and start cramming things in as quickly as possible.  We eat in our cars, while answering emails, and rarely with each other.  We stay online late into the night, then shut off the computers only to switch to our smartphone while in bed.  Efficiency.  We are plugged in 24/7.  We call it an advancement.  We call it living.

But when we're interrupted?  In our mad dash to get these huge lives of ours accomplished, we groan inwardly when someone unexpectedly drops by, or when we have to hold a feverish child all day.  We tell one another we don't have time to talk, or invite someone in, and then wonder why we have no community, no support, no one to really talk to.

I'm weighing it out, and thinking of my little son who, at 3, is convinced he is in complete control of his life.  He will make grand proclamations - "When we get home from Grandmas, I'm going to play this game."  But when we get home late, and I tell him no, it's time for bed?  He is shocked that what he was planning on all along is just not going to happen.  I wonder if God sees some of our plans like that.  We go along, like a 3 year old, clinging to a plan that was never His plan for us to begin with.  And sometimes?  We throw toddler sized tantrums when our plans go awry, forgetting that His?  Prevail.

So maybe His plan for me today will mean I don't get all that laundry done, or answer all of my emails.  Perhaps His plan for me includes something I could never have expected.  When a toddler throws a fit, or the dishwasher breaks.  When I'm asked to take them on a walk or someone calls and needs some advice.  By embracing the unexpected, slowing down and opening myself up for interruption, I can stop resisting and start living the life He calls me to.

As a mother in the home, interruptions are my work, my vocation.  If I could see them that way, my whole perspective could change.

{It's Mindful Mothering Mondays, a day to take a deep breath and write out your mothering journey, whatever form it takes. A day to link up for encouragement from others who are in this same phase of life. A day of writing out the trials and triumphs and what you're learning right where you are, right now.

You might post recent struggles or thoughts. Maybe just a picture or a quote. Or maybe you'll just come here and read the links that others post. Whatever form your participation takes, this is a day for you.
We are all in this, together. Together, we can encourage and build one another up, be honest with our shortcomings and strengthened by community to keep fighting the good fight.

I chose Mondays because what Mama doesn't need a little encouragement on a Monday? As such, I'll have the link up ready to go on Sunday night for you to begin submitting your links.

I hope you'll meet with me each Monday! Here's what to do ~

Link up your post below. Remember to put the link to the exact post you want to link, and not just your blog url. Include in your post a link back here so others who want to join in can find us! And visit some other Mamas who have linked up.

Post the community graphic within your post, so people who are reading your Mindful Mothering post can come back here and find the rest of us!

Invite the writers of your favorite blogs to join in!

Share this meme with others on facebook and twitter. This community is for all moms, and the more that participate, the more we will be able to enjoy!!}

Grab the graphic here:

<center> <a href=”http://smalltownsimplicity.blogspot.com/“><img border=”0″ src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi33nGWFb2YqBvZ2ZS-TaTwYSjYhNzQ5TsyXZbHO49CfTNnySLTZOjvSMRm6W3UVvixj_M5Aw9t17wSLFFAts22_rNk_9q4xVEQQ2GUcjevwiaR2i0wM5QN4BbX-4mcMEgI7jlHcruJtv3E/s1600/MMgraphic.png"/></a></center>


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