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Ticking Off Time

by Susan Lower  
11/21/2006 / Parenting

The time on the clock is ticking loud in your ears. The ring of the alarm fades away. You get up, get ready, and send your husband on his way. If youre lucky youve got just enough time for a cup of tea and a moment to savor the ending hour of dawn.

The pitter patter of little feet racing down the stairs breaks the silent. A sigh lets go, the day has risen. After the kids are dressed, their little tummies filled, and their messy hands washed its time to go.

Youve packed your diaper bag, readjusted little Susies straps on her backpack, and zipped up jackets at the door. The only thing you havent done is packed up the frustration this task can sometimes create. Wouldnt it be so wonderful to talk once and watch your request being obeyed? Then we could all zip up our irritation at repeat instructions to put on shoes more often. Why cant kids ever listen?

There is nothing more agitating than getting ready to leave the house and realizing youre missing something. Or actually getting in the car, halfway down the street, and have to turn around because you forgot to lock the door.

At the first glance of your watch, wait did you remember to put it on? Sigh, what else could go wrong?

Mom, I need to go potty!

A slap to the forehead would feel good right about now. Of course, your four year old would have to go potty after guzzling down a half gallon of milk with breakfast.

Why didnt you go before we left?

I dont know, small shoulders shrug.

Stop light, brakes halt the momentum of your journey. Closing your eyes a silent prayer escapes your lips. Another morning, like always, youre going to be late again. The whirlwind of howling frustration, churning with agitation builds inside to form the tornado of over ripe words pushing at the gate of your mouth.

Were almost there.

Looking back through the rearview mirror you see a squirming child. Little Timmy starts screaming as his toy falls out of reach. Before you can retrieve it the light turns green and horns are honking. Youre holding up the traffic line for those eager to get to work. Everybody is running on a clock that never seems to have enough time.

Weve all been there, done that. Mornings, like these, dont happen everyday in our house. But they happen. I may not always show up on time, or remember to bring the kitchen sink when I need it, but I always manage to bring my kids to our destination in one piece. It isnt easy, and nobody said it would. There will be days Do you remember your mother saying those words? Mine still does, and it still applies to my everyday life.

There will be days of great joy and contentment where nothing is out of place or goes wrong. What world are you living in? There will a day with joy, a day with contentment, silliness, and excitement. But there will be days, more often than not, filled with stress, tension, and worry associated with our lives.

How do I deal with this? By reciting to myself this verse:

She opens her mouth with wisdom, and her tongue is the law of kindness. (Proverbs 31:26)

Screaming shouting, raising a voice is often how anger expresses itself. I confess I am guilty when it comes to yelling at my kids, my husband, and sometimes a friend when the stress of a situation weighs heavy on my shoulders. I think in a way we all are victims to this simple escape. The source of anger may not be caused by those we refute it towards, but any outlet is better than none.

In Proverbs 29:11 we are told not to give full vent to our anger. By opening our mouths we add fuel to the flames burning inside. Words, bitter sounds of the tongue, are not gifts which can be opened then returned and forgotten. There is no reward in opening a can of worms and having them wiggle away with our pride.

Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification that it may impart grace to the hearers. (Ephesians 4:29)

Make time in your day for a quiet moment to seek out the source of your baking frustrations, extinguish the tension breathing down your neck, and let anger cool. If you need time to sort out your feelings -take it. Find a safe place for you kids. A crib works when they are small. Playing over at the neighbors or visiting grandma can be a treat while you retreat. Use this time to relax. Take a bubble bath, take a walk, or take whatever time you need to find an outlet for what is claiming the better part of you. When you find it keep it. Pack everything bothering you, in your own box and ship it off to a place where it wont come back for a long time.

The gift you receive, one worth opening, is having the people around you take from your example. The ear that hears the rebukes of life will abide among the wise. (Proverbs 15:31) What our children learn from us today, they will return to us tomorrow. So when the seconds on your clock are ticking off the minutes and an hour flees from the day, remember 24/7 the stresses of life never completely go away. Its how we face them, turn day into peaceful night that really counts.

Susan Lower is a 28 year old mother of two. In 2002 she became a stay at home mom after giving up the stresses of being an accountant. She has always loved to write, and thanks to the encouragement of her husband, is now picking the pen back up and letting God inspire her words.

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