Article by: Sarah Koontz, Founder of Living by Design Ministries
Recently, I made a commitment to be more diligent about slowing down and listening to my children throughout the day.
I was surprised by all that I heard…
When my kids were playing make believe “mommy and daughter” in the back seat of the van, I heard my own voice coming out of my daughter’s mouth as she cared for her little baby.
When my children set up a tea party in the basement and asked me to be a “different person” each time I visited, I heard them say that they love my crazy characters (like the old grandma who turns into a beautiful princess when she eats a cookie or the talking dog who transforms into a human when she eats just one bite of pink cake).
When I really took the time to listen to my children, THIS is what I heard.When I caught my husband and two daughters on the couch watching their favorite tv show (Ninja Warrior…don’t ask…I have no clue how my 7 & 8-year-old daughters became obsessed with that show), I stopped for a moment and just listened.
As they were conversing about the show, I heard the sound of a father who loves his children and is patient enough to answer each and every one of the questions they were throwing his way.
But there is one thing I heard time and time again as I took the time to listen to my children.
It was not what I was expecting to hear…
I heard it when they brought me a dandelion….. “Mommy, I picked this for you.”
I heard it in their voices when I got back from an evening out with a friend…. “I missed you.”
I heard it when my oldest wrapped her arms around me while I was cleaning…..“Mom, can I have some snuggles and tickles?”
I heard it when my youngest approached with expectation……“Mommy, can we play a game?”
I heard it when they called from the computer game they were playing….. “Come see what I did.”
I heard it when they asked for help……“Can you help me pick out my clothes?”
I heard it at bedtime…..”Mom, this was the best day ever in 300 days!”
I heard it when they joined me in the basement while I was tending to my seedlings….”I’m here to help you mommy.”
Once I started truly listening to my children, I could NOT STOP HEARING IT.
My children tell me they love me in hundreds of little ways each and every day.
All I had to do was slow down and listen for it.
My life is full of the sound of motherhood, and from where I am standing….it sounds a lot like LOVE!
My life is full of the sounds of motherhood and it sounds a lot like love to me!Every once in a while, my children will actually tell me they love me, but I have realized that I don’t need to wait for those special moments to feel loved by my kids.
I just need to stop and listen to what they are REALLY saying when they ask for help, ask me to play, or create a masterpiece for me.
They are saying that I am important to them, that they need me, and that they love me!
Unfortunately, listening is not one of my strong suits, that is unless I am listening to the sound of my own voice!
Ok, that might be a little too self-critical.
But the truth of the matter is that most of us struggle to be good listeners.
It takes practice and patience to learn the lost art of listening, especially to our children who communicate in a different way than adults.
It takes practice and patience to learn the lost art of listening.Being a mom is tough.
Sometimes it is easier to tune your kids out than it is to sift through all of their words and truly HEAR what they are REALLY saying.
But, if we can just shift our focus off of all of the sounds we’d rather not hear and listen for the love in all of the requests, I think we just might get out of this alive!
Taking the time to hear and receive the love that our kids are giving us (even if it means we have to put rollers in our hair and paint pink fingernails instead of tackling our to-do-list) is the secret that has the power to transform our mothering experience.
Still struggling? Yeah, me too!
Here are 5 Bible Verses I turn to when I am having a difficult time hearing anything but whining, complaining and fighting.
James 1:19 – My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. NIV
Psalm 127:3 – Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. NIV
Proverbs 22:6 – Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. NIV
5 Encouraging Scriptures for the mom who is struggling to delight in the sounds of motherhood.Mark 9:36-37 – Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, “Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.” NKJV
1 Samuel 26:23 – The Lord rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness. NIV
Take the time to enjoy the sound of motherhood this week by slowing down and listening for all of the little ways your kids tell you they love you each and every day.
Take a moment to enjoy the sound of motherhood this week. You'll be surprised by what you hear.It is the most beautiful sound in the whole world and it makes you feel like every sacrifice you have ever made for your children was totally worth it.
