Grasping at dust

Today after church we went to one of our favorite spots to hang out for lunch. While we were there relaxing after our meal, I noticed out of the corner of my eye that the silk tree nearby was shaking vigorously. I glanced over and saw a little girl about three or four years old shaking the tree and then looking up and grabbing handfuls of air. She did this over and over; shaking the tree, grabbing handfuls of air then opening her hand and intently gazing into her palms. At first I couldn't figure out what she was doing and then it dawned on me. I used to love to watch dust float through the air when the sun came through the windows at home when I was growing up. This little girl was shaking the dust off the tree, watching it float under the light above and she was trying to catch it. She would look sooo hard for it in her hand and when she couldn't see it, she shook and grabbed more.
I thought about how futile this was, this grasping of air, and then I realized that I must look like that to God sometimes. I run around grabbing handfuls of air, trying to grab hold of minuscule pieces of things that don't really matter. Spending all kinds of time and energy and emotion for what??? All I seem to come up with is fists full of nothing. If only I could have His perspective, to see that what I'm working so hard to grab is just dust. I think Solomon called it 'a chasing after the wind'. I believe that what He wants me to do is relax, open my hands and allow Him to fill them with the things that are truly important. In the future, I hope that I will remember this picture and recognize when I'm grasping at dust.
Amazing how God can speak to you in almost any situation if we only slow down enough to hear him.

amazed at how time flies

'They' used to say it all the time when I was a new mom..."one day you'll wake up and they'll be grown". Well, today I woke up and knew beyond a shadow of a doubt, 'they' were right. I am looking at the cap and gown that belongs to our oldest child, Natalie. Friday morning, she will walk across the stage and receive her diploma while her mother tries to control the tears that won't seem to stop. See, I cry at the first few notes of 'Pomp and Circumstance'. I always have! There will be tears of joy and pride at what my daughter has accomplished and what lies ahead for her. But, there will also be tears of sadness and regret. Sadness that the days of tea parties and swing sets and barbies and slumber parties are gone for good. Regrets that I didn't appreciate and enjoy it more for the fleeting moments that it was there. Someone once said that for a young mom the days crawl by, but the years fly by. I am no longer a young mom and the days are no longer crawling by. For once, I just want to go in slow motion...drink in every moment...appreciate the beauty and grace of the young woman God entrusted me with and be amazed at God's grace that taught me how to be a mother.