The Little Things

A framed embroidered sampler hangs in my bedroom stating, "Enjoy the little things in life...for one day you'll look back and realize they were the big things."  It seems like there have been a lot of "big things" in my life lately:  lots of "big" needs within the ward (where I serve as RS pres.), lots of "big" needs within my family (the kids at home needing time and attention preparing for school and sports, the kids who have "left the nest" needing support in work, school, and "stepping into adulthood" decisions), and lots of "big" needs professionally (as I prepare to start teaching 1st grade-something I've never done before.) At times it seems overwhelming trying to meet all these needs, and I feel like I'm just barely "holding it together," doing only a mediocre job at best in any one of these areas. 

So last week, as I drove Luke to football, just me and him, and I listened to him rattle on about tackling drills, cleats, and football plays, I was grateful for the realization that for that one small moment,  my life was "perfect."  It was a "little thing," a little moment of perfect bliss, a small oasis in a life of big, complicated things.  For a few minutes, I was not worried about finances, work, and the myriad of needs of those in my family and in my ward.  Instead I relished in listening to this 11-year-old boy in grass stained practice pants explain the intricacies of 6th-grade football plays.

I remember when driving my kids to sports practices seemed like a huge "chore," but when compared to trying to help my young adult off-spring deal with really "big" things (broken cars, rent, housing, majors, careers, jobs, college class schedules, relationships, friends, etc.) and most of the time (OK ALL of the time) feeling totally and completely inadequate and second-guessing all my endeavors in this area, driving my youngest to practice was a refreshing task that I could do "perfectly."  Yep, I may not know how to advise my kids on choosing a major (and even if I should-after all it's their lives), but I DO know how to drive a car, and I CAN successfully deliver my offspring to practice. So maybe by the time my youngest is in college I will be able to "perfectly" handle all of his needs as a young adult, but my older kids will have to "muddle through" with me as I try to do my best.  After all, motherhood is on-the-job training. 

Luke gets instruction from the coach before heading into the game.  Football season 2012