… he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord. Exodus 34:29
My five-year-old Jocelyn loves her sleep. During the school year, I have to haul her out of bed at 7 a.m. so I can get everyone fed and ready before we have to go to the bus stop for my older boys. That’s too early for her, so she begins her day cranky and whiny. As the morning goes on, that goes away. However, it always seems to be lurking at the edges of her mood. We’ve had some lazy summer days recently where we haven’t had to get up at any certain time to rush off to an adventure. Jocelyn has been sleeping until 9 or 9:30 a.m., waking up rested and happy. It’s a whole new scene. I can hear her through her door, singing in her bed. Sometimes she’ll hold a private concert for fifteen minutes or more. When she does come out and join us, she’s radiant. She’s glowing because her well is full, her needs have been met, and all is right in her world.
I, on the other hand, am not so radiant…
In fact, I have bags under my eyes. I’ve developed an enormous summer addiction to Smart Food and Netflix after my kids and husband go to bed. I munch while watching Frazier on my son’s ipad. It just rolls from one episode right into the next without me having to touch a thing. Consequently, I have been barreling down that slippery slope of one episode leading to two, leading to three, and so on. I tell myself that I deserve the brainless entertainment after a hot summer day of entertaining my kids. However, not putting boundaries on it means I am going to bed at midnight, even 1 a.m. It’s safe to say, I am not waking up singing like Jocelyn. It isn’t refilling my well; it’s draining it, and me. It also leaves me completely unmotivated and unfocused in my prayer time.
Moses’ face glowed because he spoke with God. Despite the hardships he faced in the desert with the very difficult and constantly complaining people he led, talking with God refilled him, lit him up from the inside, so much so that he radiated.
We all know people like that: those people that experience the ups and downs of life with grace. Their joy and peace draw us to them like a magnet. We want to be around them as much as we can, hoping that a little bit of that glow will rub off on us.
I think those people have that magnetic presence because they talk with God on a regular basis. They still have sleep deprived pockets of time, financial hardships, health issues, you name it. But they bring it all to God, really focus, see His face in their prayer time, bask in His light, and trust Him wholeheartedly with their struggles. That trust, and being in His presence, is the source of their glow.
I need to get there, even in my sleep deprived state. I need to recommit to my prayer time. Moreover, I need to focus while I am in prayer. It’s not that God hides. It’s that we have to have the right vision to bring Him into view. Once we do, we too can bask in His light, and then radiate that light to others.
—————————————-
Thank you so much for reading! I would be immensely grateful if you voted for my blog. If you’re not already on the home page of “Shifting My Perspective,” click on the title of this post. Then simply click the cute pink and brown “Top Mommy Blog” icon in the upper right hand corner of my home page. It’s that simple! That wonderful site ranks mommy blogs based on votes. So feel free to vote up to once a day! Thanks so much!
Shifting My Perspective 
Oh I am in the same spot my friend…except for me it is the Big Bang Theory and solitaire on the ipad (just one more game). I need some major boundaries in my life!!! I am so tired.
LikeLike
I LOVE the Big Bang Theory and also find it VERY addicting! Here’s wishing you strong boundaries and rejuvenating rest!
LikeLike
I am not in exactly the same spot, but I am tired and not handling it gracefully. I need to find focus as well so that I can be more like Moses instead of one of his followers.
LikeLike
Hang in there Pam! I’ve always known you to handle challenges with grace. I’m sure you’ll figure this newest challenge out soon. 🙂
LikeLike