Being the bowling alley…

Martin Mull said being a mother is like having a bowling alley installed in your brain. This morning as I was, ostensibly, sleeping in I had to agree. Now I don’t really think that the children were lining up outside my door to cry, yell, scream or tell long rambling narratives. It just seemed to be so. In addition to three visiting cousins I’m sure Paul did not import a dozen whiny urchins. It only sounded like it.

Lying there, clearly not sleeping in, I thought about my response. My instinct was to come out grumbling about the noise and to make it clear that no real favors had been extended. I chose to get up and be thankful that I had been able to slowly process the chaos and at least remain horizontal a while longer than Paul. I don’t know what it looked like, but I smiled at people, immediately made coffee and then jumped into the juvenile milieu.

At different points in my life I have asked God for His divine pause during my day, say right before I said something terribly hurtful or profane. I haven’t prayed that lately, but I think other prayers are resulting in this exercise again. It is as if He slows down time and gives me a moment to see the terrible choice I am poised to make and then an opportunity to shift. Preventative grace, is what it is.

Why I am beginning to treasure this blogging practice is that I sit down with no clear purpose, think about the latest thing that has occurred, relate it and then God shows up to clarify and seal it within me. I didn’t think about preventative grace until I came to that sentence. Now when I take my vitamins I will remember to ask for anticipatory grace too.

Hope everyone is well today.