Annabelle has a booger in her left nostril. Her nostril is too small and my little finger is too big to get it.
This is what I do all day. I’m often asked that…what I do all day…pretty much what I can between Annabelle’s feedings, playtime and naps. I work out, read my bible, maybe a chapter in a book here and there, and if I’m lucky, we have an errand or lunch date to enjoy. Other than that I check her over and over again as we play and talk. She loves to swing her head back and forth till the back of her head is carpet burned. She waves her arms and legs like a Pinocchio doll on strings. She wails as I put her down in her crib for about 10 minutes till the sleep finally envelops her. And she knows exactly when to flash me her sweet smile to melt my heart.
Do I get bored? Yup. Do I feel like I’m not adding much to society? Sometimes. Do I wish for an eight-hour job once again so I can be with adults all day? Well, actually, it does cross my mind as I remove the toe jam from her toes and make sure her nails are trimmed.
Then I remember…or am reminded gently by loved ones…that sometimes being bored is kingdom living. Living for the kingdom does not mean I have to be in exciting situations for most of the day, every day. It doesn’t mean constant bible studies or witnessing. It doesn’t mean ministering to hurting souls 27/7 or never being by myself. Kingdom living is glorifying God in everything we do, from going to the office each day to staying home with the kids. From staring at the stray cat who decided to make our cement porch home while waiting for Annabelle to wake up, to ministering to marines on a ship for months at a time away from family. Kingdom living is knowing time with my daughter is not just quality, its quantity. Just as Mark Driscoll says, how will you know the quality if you don’t have the quantity? The quantity includes diaper changes, giving her eye contact when words don’t come, and even being bored a time or two. Not that the Lord expects me to drop all social schedules or ministry opportunities to stay home, but I am called to be faithful in the tasks that he gives me each day as a mom…even if that means figuring out how to get that booger out of her nose…