journeys-page

Believe what they say, three kids are a lot of work. Most of my day feels like organized chaos: baths, feedings, middle of the night soothing, transportation, more middle of the night soothing, laundry, packing bags, emptying bags, etc. Did I mention laundry? Add to this a full-time job where my #1 role is to address the needs of others, and most days I can barely keep my head above water. I’m tired. I lose my patience. I scatter my attention in 20 different directions. Amidst the supersonic pace of life, it’s easy to let the chaos get the best of me. I am so busy trying to do this thing called ‘life,’ I forget to actually live it. And unless God is on my ‘to-do’ list, I find myself letting Him get overshadowed by the daily demands of being a working mom. In an effort to calm the storm, the four Buhrman boys and I make it a priority to eat supper as a family every night. For twenty minutes, we attempt to block out the rest of the world to focus our attention on God and each other. We begin by holding each other’s hands and praying, concluded by an enthusiastic “AMEN” by Nolan. Then everyone goes around the table and shares their joy for the day. In fact, you cannot be excused from the table unless you have shared your joy. It’s my favorite family tradition. It reminds me that no matter how tired I am, no matter how many directions I feel pulled, I am centered by my faith and my family. I can ALWAYS pick out something in my day that brought me a smile, that I’m thankful for, or was a reminder of the many blessings God has given me. I leave the dinner table emotionally, physically, and spiritually renewed. What centers you through the chaos? What do you do to bring yourself emotional and spiritual renewal daily? I pray that in this furious storm of life, you find moments of joy and calm—bringing you closer to God and the people who matter most to you. Danielle Buhrman