We had planned one “outing” or event for each weekday of the full week that my mother and brother would be here to visit us. We toured Widow’s Jar Ministries; went antiquing at Second Stories in McCordsville, IN (a delightful shop I can’t wait to tell you more about); enjoyed an amazing tour of the national headquarters of the American Legion; and much more! We savored the remainder of each day just sitting by the fire, talking, playing games, and having our bodies and spirits refreshed with a restful visit.

It was during one of these “restful” moments that I sat down on the bench beside my mom and apologized for basically just “sitting around” that afternoon. I’m not really a shopper (and by that I mean that I literally hate to shop), but knowing that my mom likes to leisurely look at what’s in the stores, I asked if she wanted to go to some of the shops we have in Indianapolis that she doesn’t have readily accessible in Northern Indiana. She stated that she was enjoying just being by the fire and drinking a hot mug of cappuccino. Then we both just gazed at the beauty of the fire, talked about life in general, and sipped our beverages in a wonderfully unhurried way. Then she spoke these words:

“This is the moment I’ll remember. Not shopping. Not buying or looking at more stuff. This moment.”

Her words were a gift, a blessing, and a poignant reminder of what matters.

We run around, attempting to be busier today than we were yesterday—sometimes because we think it’s expected of us, sometimes in an effort to fulfill the outrageous expectations we put on ourselves, sometimes merely to attempt to complete the many tasks to which we have overcommitted ourselves.

We often buy because we can, think we can, or think we should.

We speak merely to fill the silence rather than be silent to soak in the moment and learn the lessons that God, in the quietness—in this moment—is longing to teach us.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6–7, NASB).

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