The taillights which had stopped red in the night just ahead of me seemed for once a relief. Traffic. Silence. Stillness.
The red glow of the lights jolted my sluggish and congested mind. Even traffic is a gift when children are sleeping.
Not twenty minutes earlier I had wisked my two littles into the backseat of our car and out into the cold. The house had gotten too wallish. The ceilings lower than what seemed humanly possible. Could I even stand up straight in there?! I think the dishes were even scheming and planning to multiply as I closed the door behind me.
We were going out. Anywhere.
In the quiet drive that followed, I felt myself unravel. Life always flashes before me in these moments, the wild beauty and mystery of it all.
It’s amazing how quickly silence does this to our spirits. We unravel when there is finally nothing to distract, or pull at us. We unravel when we give ourselves room to think.
We unravel and step back and think about how well we are loving and living out our one precious life.
Sometimes we think every moment needs filling, but it truly doesn’t. Or, sometimes every moment simply gets filled by default.
Either way, silence is what brings back fulfillment and refreshment.
Silence is like a mirror and though sometimes it is incredibly hard to look into (because when we look, we see ourselves and our lives all laid out bare) it is wildly important to do so.
In the silence we have no place left to hide and all we can do is look at who we have become and what we have done with our lives up to that point.
We need the silence because we need to look at whether we are making an impact, leaving a legacy, loving well, forgiving wholeheartedly, and living with courage and generosity!
As I drove home that night my spirit felt lifted. In the small space of silence I had, I became thankful for all that my life holds right now, both good and bad, easy and hard. They all have a purpose. Nothing is wasted in this life.
Even my dishes had stopped their scheming and multiplying as I walked through the door and the ceilings had grown upward by at least 2 feet, I am sure!
Silence offered me a gift that night, and it offers the same gift of refreshment every time I choose to embrace it.
Have you let silence unravel your spirit recently?
Claudia, great post. This time of year it’s so easy to get stressed with all the things we think we need to do. I just heard a lady on Dave Ramsey’s radio show that lost her husband to a stroke at age 29! His dream was to pay off all their debt and leave a legacy for his family so the wife took that and was calling to scream that she was debt free. She said she and her three young children lived on barely $16,000 per year cutting off cell phones, internet, cable, and buying only at thrift stores. She paid off all the debt including her home! All she could do was thank God for His love and for caring for them and loving them through everything. I was in awe and humbled by what she said. It made me stop and say a prayer myself of thankfulness and then to just be still and quiet. I hope this story will be a constant reminder to me throughout Christmas to be still, quiet and thankful. Hope you and Michael and the boys have a wonderful Christmas!
Thank you for your comment and the story you shared Donna!!! I love those stories which grip our hearts, challenge us, and awaken us to the treasure around us!
May you find stillness and refreshment this Christmas season! Blessings to you and your family!
Beautifully said Claudia and Donna that was quite a powerful story you shared as well. It’s easy to be pulled in a million different directions any time but especially at this time of year when life gets even more stressful and hectic, silence becomes that much more important. Even 5 minutes to be quiet – be still and know – and just breathe out our gratitude for all our blessings. Thank you for a lovely reminder Claudia.
Oh so true Ann! Even 5 minutes of breathing, being still, and refocusing on what is important makes a huge difference!
I feel this every time I put the kids down for a nap! Ahhhhh 😉
Oh, hahaha, yes I remember those days well!!
I’m sure Ann… like it was yesterday!! What gifts each season offer!
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!!! You are speaking my language, sister! Silence is a beautiful gift… if only we give ourselves permission to open it!
I thought of you a lot while writing this Annette!!! Your pursuit of silence and stillness has blessed and encouraged me a lot in this area!
So glad we can mutually encourage one another!! 🙂
SOOOOO good. I need more silence in my life!
Ahhhh yes Char!!! One of my friends (who is a mom too) goes away for one weekend a month to reflect and refocus and be with others who are doing the same, it has changed her life! I find this to be so rare (especially among us moms)… but so very important!
Perhaps we can help each other in this area! 😉
Unheard of!
Wow! Yes, let’s talk more about this. I would love to hear more about this. I thrive on silence and dry up without it…but I find it so hard to find it in normal day to day life.
“When I am silent, I hear my true self and reach my soul. When I am silent, I hear with a caring heart. Silence teaches us to know reality by respecting it where words have defiled it.” – Thomas Merton
Someone else has said that “Silence in the language of God…” I find this to be true! And that is why I seek it out and cherish it with all my heart!
Reminding yourself to be thankful for the good, accepting the bad and to know their is a purpose in all of this.
When the house is bulging with chaos, the fridge has a void and responsibility is beating down the door.
Constructive silence can help you to reset and take the next step. However, some silence can be deafening. No?
I was reminded today, also in Jeremiah 29:11 of my future.
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares The Lord, ” plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Love the pictures Jenny!!!
I think silence can be deafening indeed! Especially if it has been a while since we have been silent! Its hard when we are used to so much noise, and entertainment, and distraction… but I think it is so important! And, when we are silent long enough and often enough we become ok with the silence and realize how important it is in our own development and refreshment!
love ya sis!