wake up

I pushed my red Target cart forward thinking of all I needed to get. I wandered past an endcap with the 50% off sign I stopped and looked at all the things I didn’t know I might need to have. Notecards, cute little media boxes, and stickers caught my eye. As I stood there I heard a loud noise.

Then darkness.

The power went out.

I didn’t know what to do. Do I move forward to the 70% off signs in the toy area? Do I stay here? Do I go back to the light of the doors? And then another noise, and slowly lights began to flicker on. It was the generator pushing in enough power to have the store be half lit, without background sound, and leaving flickering lights.

As I continued my walk it was as if a barrier was broken between people. Shoppers who might just walk by each other were now talking and wondering about Target’s recent power outage. Employees were taken from what they were doing to quickly help close up the freezer and deli areas. It was as if we all woke from the slumber of normalcy.

It’s that way in life.

We move through our daily tasks as mothers — unloading dishes, changing diapers, reading books, laundry, teaching, driving, listening, solving problems, budgeting, rocking — on auto-drive. Much like me with my empty, but soon to be filled, red cart at Target. Then something happens to wake us up. Make us aware of where we are and what we are doing.

Sometimes it’s little things – laughter from a babe, a walk in the afternoon, or coffee with a friend. Then other times it’s life changing things – cancer, death, lost  job, moving and more. Whatever it is we are given this glimpse of awareness to the gift of the absolute beauty of the everyday.

But how do we keep it? How do we cultivate an environment in our homes where the everyday is celebrated? It takes intentional effort and reminding of self to focus on the real important. And that, my friends, can be found through our Savior. When we live a life where our path is filtered through His lens then we can begin to live alive and aware of the joy in the everyday.

When I left Target with it’s still flickering lights, I went to their Starbucks to grab a latte. As I reached to pay, the gal behind the counter told me, “It’s on us. Our register is broken due to the power glitch.” A gift. In the middle of the day that was jolted from being normal. We as mothers have the opportunity to provide those moments for our kids. A story unexpectedly. We help with their chores. We let them stay up late. We make their favorite dinner. A little note. Moments that celebrate life and show our children our love for them in the everyday.

Wake up, mothers! This gift, this time of being a mother is all too short to be pushing your cart of motherhood on automatic.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2