One Word, Five Voices: Near

To hear someone clearly, you must come near to them. You have to be present with them—close. Otherwise, all you hear is muffled conversation over the roar of everyday life and you miss things—important things like the nuances in their voice and the facial expressions and gestures they make that words themselves cannot express.

I find myself realizing this even more when the busyness of life starts to take over and I start rushing instead of being fully present. I realized I was at that point today when I got a phone call from Gavin's school saying he "just wasn't himself." I heard his little voice say, "I just miss you, Mommy," and I realized I hadn't been present enough with him in the last few days. An anniversary weekend and my regular Monday night group gathering had taken me away from our normal routine, and I hadn't been present enough to just be with him.

It was a good reminder to me to be intentional about the time I spend with him. Anniversary weekends and Monday nights are important, and other things like them are going to come up, but it doesn't mean that I can't focus on being in the moment with my kiddos when I am with them.

It's also a good reminder not only to be a more intentional mother, but also a more intentional wife, friend, co-worker, etc. I must come near to people to truly hear them.  

Thanks for that reminder today, Gav.

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 Check out what my friends think of today's word on their blogs: Shawn, Heather, Steph and Brian.