It's been a month now since I started caring for my grandsons who, next week, will be 3 months and 16 months old. They're here four days a week, and I wouldn't be honest if I didn't tell you, Grandma is tired!
The shift to "full-time Grandma" has actually gone smoother than I expected, at least until this past week.
What changed? My focus.
It has been my prayer since entering this season that I would be fully present while I'm with the boys, and really, shouldn't we be doing that all the time? Keeping my mind on the task at hand rather than jumping ahead to what I think God will have for me next. So my focus has been on caring for the boys rather than all the other things I'm not doing (and the list is growing as I speak!)
This week, though, it's been hard. Because of busyness in the evenings last week and over the weekend, I started off the week feeling behind, and at the end of the week (i.e. NOW) we're leaving on vacation, with all the preparation that entails. Unfortunately, my mind kept going to everything I wasn't accomplishing rather than what I was doing.
Do you ever catch yourself doing this? Thinking about everything except where you are right now?
Thankfully I caught myself and realized the problem is with my thinking more than anything else. While the world may think what I'm doing is a waste of time (I even had someone in ministry tell me, "I really don't understand why someone would leave their ministry for grandkids"), I know that I'm exactly where God wants me to be!
Lord, help me to remember that in everything I do, I'm doing it for you! Guide me as I minister to these precious boys, and prepare me for what you have in store for me next.
Lisa
Linking Up with "Spiritual Sunday", "Weekend Whatever", "Tell Me a Story", "God Bumps and God Incidences", "Word Filled Wednesday"
Thanks for the reminder, Lisa. My mind/thinking is good at jumping all over the place. Focus is my new word!!
I can only hope and pray that I will be the wonderful grandma to my grands that you are to yours. (I have a pretty good example in my mom and mom - in-law, too!) What special times and memories for your two little guys! God will bless your decision for sure!!
I think we all tend to be lacking in focus. I am guilty too. Hope the vacation goes well. Angie
Oh I am a multi-tasker and I do this all the time! But God understands and uses our gifts and talents, whatever they are. All things will work for good! I had to give up my service in my community because of some health challenges but God opened up other doors. Patsy from
HeARTworks and
papemelroti
I'm keeping two of mine for the next 8 days. I've been praying God will help me just enjoy them. My husband is gone some of the time, too, so Mawmaw will be it! It helped to read this and know someone else struggles with it, too.
How blessed you are to be able to spend time with your grandkids. Sounds to me like you are exactly where God wants you to be. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and darling babies.
Blessings,
Charlotte
Lisa I admire what you are doing with caring for your grandsons. I will be appreciating it a lot more next week too when I care for them! But don't ever let anyone tell you what you're doing isn't important. Who better to care for those boys than a grandma with her genuine love, nurturing care, wisdom and experience! You are investing in their future, molding them and creating a bond with them that can be life affecting. And by choosing to be in the moment with them, giving them your all, it's actually like worship and God is smiling on you! Remember that when you have rough days, (or call me if it's a Thursday!)
Even though I'm not involved much with my kids and g-kids, even though they live here in town, I AM involved with the Bhutanese. AND I'm leaving town on Sunday afternoon -- after the 1st birthday party of one of my Bhutanese little girls - Sneha "Love" -- that I helped deliver. I'll be gone for 3 weeks. Will miss my husband terribly. BUT have Bhutanese issues to help with this week, the yard work to arrange for, the house to have cleaned-beyond-belief so all Dave has to do while I'm gone is his dishes and laundry since he has so much else to do for so many. AND packing, sorting, choosing and on and on. I'm tired.. and more tired when I'm thinking about it and writing this. Funny how we have so much on our plates that it's a struggle to head for "vacation"... which, in my case, will be a mix of rest and work. [One of my blessings: when I'm driving for many hours some days, I listen to the Word, worship and praise with the music, pray and rejoice as that adoration floods my heart. An in-the-car Sabbatical retreat.]
Hope you have a blessed time. And you HAVE been a blessing to the little ones and their parents.
I haven't had grandbabies full time, but my youngest daughter did send her three to visit us for a week. Grandpa gave me the task of entertining them. I think back when my three were small and my girl friend asked me to care for her children while she worked. Soon she had three and my three made six, but somehow they did some of the entertaining, and nap time helped too. Thank you for sharing at "Tell Me a Story." Honestly I do NOT envy you.
Thanks for your visit on my blog earlier this week, and for your comment left on "The Goal of Prayer". I'm glad it brought me here, to another grandma! Your two little grandsons look precious - enjoy your times with them, and I appreciated reading your thoughts as you care for them. I am a fellow grandma (of ten), and have had seasons of life where I have cared regularly for some - may God give you strength and joy as you spend time with yours.