A good friend sent me a gift: Seasons of a Mother’s Heart by Sally Clarkson, a book subtitled, “Heart-to-heart encouragement, inspiration and insight for homeschooling mothers.” In the third chapter, “Beside Still Waters,” the author recalls some advice given her as a young woman when she served as a missionary: look to your personality and determine what you need to keep going. I want to give the question some thought.
- I need moments of quietness. By that, I mean literal quietness: no audiobooks playing in the background, no radio on, no one talking to me, no interactions between children happening loudly in the next room. Silence. I can’t thrive without it.
- Moments of solitude. I get up quite early to achieve this (and #1). Sometimes it’s in the house; often it’s on a walk in the neigborhood. (The dog comes with me, but she doesn’t count.) I think my sanity would benefit if I plan some time once a week or so in the evening too… even a half hour to sit at Barnes & Noble by myself as part of a grocery shopping trip.
- Time in prayer and Bible study. I’ve had the habit of doing this first thing in the morning for 15 years or so, but it seems that prayer gets harder rather than easier. Not sure why that is.
- Right brain stimulation: music, heard or played myself at the piano; reading; writing.
- Friends. Between churches, my circle of friends has shrunken, but I have some dear ones far away that I like to check in with.
These are the things that fill my tank so that I have something to give during the other 9/10ths of life, when it’s needed by my family. I wouldn’t say I’m deprived in any of these basic areas. Yet often I feel a stinginess, like I don’t have the things others need from me. *Note to self: feelings can be deceptive. You have what you need. Give it away, like the widow of Zarephath (I Kings 17).
