Simple and Slow Fridays - Noise & Peace

So, how did you do this past week "eliminating noises that don't enhance the present moment"? I did pretty well, I think. We haven't had cable since Monday and we haven't popped in a video at all. There has been very little noise other than the "noise" we've made. It's been nice. In fact, one night we all sat in the sun room reading. Will and Nathan were sitting side by side in the big recliner and Will was pointing things out to Nathan in the book. I do believe that is the first time the whole family was reading at the same time! (Sad, I know.)

I also made a special effort on the road to say "yes" when Will asked for a story. We rode with the radio off (as we usually do), but this time really using our imaginations to interact with Will. It was hard for me to use my imagination for such a long period of time... I was running out of things to come up with! :) It will get better, though!

So with the noise gone, it really got me thinking about "Peace". Peace can be different things to different people. Peace for you might be having your entire extended family gathered together making a lot of conversation "noise" or it might be sitting alone with a book in dead silence. Peace can be different for children than for adults, too. Is peace "just being still" or is peace "having it all accomplished"? Conveniently for me, there is a chapter entitled Peace in Mitten Strings for God. :)

Here area a few of her thoughts on the subject:

So often we bemoan our children's hyperactivity and short fuses. But what kind of example do we set for them as we race from here to there ourselves, trying to accomplish more, have more, experience more, in the course of a day? My rambunctious five-year-old actually craves stillness, embraces it gratefully, whenever I stop long enough to create it with him. (p19)

That we are all efficiency experts almost goes without saying. How else could we meet our deadlines, care for our children, make time for our partners, and put dinner on the table every night? (p21)

We are constantly on the run in some form or fashion! Do we ever slow down enough to just observe our surroundings? To find peace in the simple things? To teach our children to be at peace? I know that I don't do a good enough job creating peace for myself, Jeff, or the boys.

I do not want them to be bombarded with noise, information, and media messages, to be pulled along on a current of activity and stimulation. They need time to stop and exhale, time to feel centered, safe, and whole. (p22)

In a society that endorses activity, I think we would all do well to put more trust in stillness. No matter how busy we are, we can find meaning and renewal in those moments that are available to us. (p24)

Does this subject step on your toes as much as it does mine? Do we give ourselves the time to exhale? This chapter really pulls my heart strings.


Challenge for this week:

What does "peace" mean to you? How can you create it and teach your children about it?

Carve out moments of "peace" for you and for each member of your family every day. It doesn't have to be an hour long or even 5 minutes. It might just be a moment where you connect and find peace in each other's smile. It might be a craft with the kids (ideas here), a walk around the block holding hands, a simple "I love you today", or something as big as a whole day to just enjoy each other's company with no planned agenda.

You have permission to slow down, observe your surroundings, stop and exhale!