This week on our Spring break, I’ve thought about a specific day years ago when my daughter taught me the importance of slowing down. It was a beautiful summer day and I was busy with a task.

“Come outside Mommy,” my elementary-aged daughter said, “I  made something special for you.”

I walked into the backyard and there was a make-shift bungalow attached to our large tree.

“You have to lie down here,” she said motioning to the beach towel placed in front of the tree.

I lay down, looked around, and complimented her on the creative shelter. I started to get up to leave so I could continue my task indoors.

“You can’t leave yet. I’m not done,” she said.

I lay back down and she began to fan me with a broken tree branch. “Isn’t this relaxing, Mommy?”

As I smiled, it hit me how anxious I was to rush off to a task rather than savor these precious moments. I stopped and just took it all in. She had no agenda other than provide me a place where I could rest, relax, and just be.

Away from my mom-duty distractions, I looked up at the tree reaching towards the sky and saw the beauty of God’s creation. Fascinated, I looked closely at the aging bark and was amazed by how the tree formed around the boards secured above. I thought about all the many memories created around this tree, the many children who climbed and swung on it, and the joy and laughter surrounding nature’s jungle gym. I almost missed this.

“My turn,” my daughter said interrupting my lingering thoughts. I got up, thanked her, and gave her a big hug letting her know what a special gift that was to me.  She smiled.

I’ve forgotten the unimportant mom-task I disregarded, but I’ll never forget the scenes and lesson learned that day. I’m glad I didn’t miss it!

Rest is not idleness,

and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer’s day,

listening to the murmur of the water,

or watching the clouds float across the sky,

is by no means a waste of time.  ~J. Lubbock