In Her World

What gain has the worker from [their] toil? I have seen the business that God has given to the children of [humans] to be busy with. God has made everything beautiful in its time. – Ecclesiastes 3:9-11 (ESV) 

The elder Ecclesiastes does a life review, and comes to the same conclusion many of us do as we realize we likely have more days behind us than before us: “Why did I work so hard? Why didn’t I just stop and enjoy life a little more—and the people who blessed it?” 

When I was a young mom and a pell-mell pastor, I was always trying to accomplish several things at once as efficiently as possible. My willful kids had their own ideas. They did not want to put on shoes; they did want to take the long way round, walk on every wall holding my hand, stop to pet every agreeable dog. I thought of them as oppositional, but they weren’t opposing me. They were just doing what came naturally to them.  

My kids are grown now, and my 19-month-old grandbaby recently came to visit. I hadn’t seen her in a while, since she lives so far away. Did I even remember what 19-month-olds like to do?  

I planned a week full of high-energy field trips to zoos and children’s museums. Instead, she wanted to feed the ducks slowly, swing on the swings for a long time, and read 17 books at bedtime. I’m still a pell-mell pastor, but I knew this opportunity wouldn’t last. This time, I didn’t miss the memo to live fully in her world, and linger in it, even if it was just for a little while.  

Prayer
Mother of us all, how is it that you always have time for every one of us and still manage to do your big job? May we follow in your footsteps—living in your world with mindful, and easier, joy in one another.

About the Author
Rev. Molly Baskette is the lead pastor of First Church Berkeley UCC and the author of books about church renewal, parenting, spiritual growth and more. Sign up for her author newsletter or get information about her newest book at mollybaskette.com.