Time is of the Essence

By on September 30, 2011 in faith & womanhood

“Now is the time to get things done…wade in the water, sit in the sun, squish my toes in the mud by the door, explore the world of a girl just four.

Now is the time to study books, flowers, snails, how a cloud looks; to ponder “up,” where God sleeps nights, why mosquitoes take such big bites.

Later there’ll be time to sew and clean, paint the hall that soft new green, to make new drapes, refinish the floor – Later on…when she’s not just four.”

- Irene Foster

How can I be an awesome mom today to the precious children given to me?

About Lindsay

Lindsay Edmonds is first a lover of Jesus, wife, mother of four, homemaker, and writer. She loves inspiring women around the world toward simple, natural, and intentional living for the glory of God.
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16 Responses to Time is of the Essence

  1. Amanda : Grace & Gusto October 15, 2011 at 4:46 pm #

    God has not blessed me with children yet, but this quote brought tears to my eyes. Beautiful.

  2. The Chatty Housewife October 4, 2011 at 7:55 am #

    What a beautiful poem! Your girls are precious, the new little one looks just like her sister!

  3. Maleah October 3, 2011 at 9:06 pm #

    What a wonderful reminder to us all. When one is in the thick of life with babies, toddlers or preschoolers, it sometimes seems like it will never end. I’m here to say it does end, and way too quickly at that. I love the wonderful people my children (15 and 13) have become, but I really miss the days of story time at the library and trips to the playground. Cling to these moments.

  4. Tracey M. October 3, 2011 at 6:15 am #

    This is a wonderful way to start the week. Thank you for the encouragement!

  5. jessie October 1, 2011 at 4:34 pm #

    beautiful. especially impacting as i’m wearing my one-week-oldbson and my two-year-old big brother is falling asleep..i saw the title of this and thought ” oh, good — i can start being efficient again..” slowing down a bit now. :)

  6. Elizabeth October 1, 2011 at 3:16 pm #

    This made me tear up. Perhaps that is because me first is not to be born for six more months. This made me think to enjoy even today in his and her little life. The aches and the pains, the frequent bathroom trips. All those things that mean his or her little life is progressing.

  7. Vanessa September 30, 2011 at 8:59 pm #

    Lindsay,
    I don’t even know you, but almost every time I read your posts, they speak to me in some profound way. I have two young girls (one is 2 and one is 2 months). This is such a wonderful reminder to me as I frequently struggle to slow down and forget about my “to do” list and enjoy them. Thank you so much for this reminder!

  8. Justyn September 30, 2011 at 6:03 pm #

    I love this! It is such a good reminder to take the time to do what is important to our little ones. We don’t have to spend all day “entertaining” them, but taking some time to really focus our attention and share in the joy of discovering new things with them is precious. Thanks for the reminder!

  9. Ashley Willcox September 30, 2011 at 3:24 pm #

    Beautiful! Thanks for sharing.

  10. shana September 30, 2011 at 2:46 pm #

    I always find that on days when i am not being the best for the Lord or my children that your blog has the encouragement to remind of what is the best. Thank you

  11. Elizabeth September 30, 2011 at 10:47 am #

    Lindsay you continue to be an encouragement to me. Thank you! I am awarding you a blog award here http://ejoym.blogspot.com/2011/09/im-honored.html I know you are a busy woman and have a ton of followers already but you are and continue to be inspiration for me in the most important ways and I wanted to thank you! Have a great weekend!

  12. Kat September 30, 2011 at 6:52 am #

    Oh, what a lovely poem. Thanks for sharing it, Lindsay! See you in a few weeks!

  13. Kristina September 30, 2011 at 6:43 am #

    I really like that poem! Even tho my daughter is(soon to be) 6 and my son IS (soon to be) 4 . I think that I am going to print that and hang it in my house! I love it so much!

  14. Katie September 30, 2011 at 5:52 am #

    I love poems like these but I also feel conflicted when I read them. I think the message that we should enjoy and play with our children is important but does that mean we have to stop everything? Also I feel like keeping some sort of cleanliness in our homes are important for our kids and especially our husbands and that poems like these make me feel guilty for it. Maybe I am just being too sensitive though especially since I do neither of these things perfect.

  15. Daniella Peterka September 30, 2011 at 5:11 am #

    Thanks for this! The homemade curtains and the artwork and the penned letters and the email can all wait (well, at least until she’s in bed at night!). May we somehow get the things done necessary to our day, but yes, let us walk outside and play in the leaves and dance in the living room and read stacks of books on the screened porch and bake cookies together today! Blessings to all you ladies!!

  16. Christie September 30, 2011 at 4:16 am #

    May I hug my four year old Eden a little tighter today :) Thanks for sharing!