Being

One of my favorite authors, Henri Nouwen, writes a lot about the fact that "Being is more important than doing." You know the story--our culture teaches us that productivity is of the utmost importance. When we have accomplished something, we are valuable. This is a lie. The fact that we are created and loved by God means we are valuable. I work hard to let this truth sink into my life, but it is difficult. 

Today I am grateful for the way Isaiah slows me down. He eats slowly, talks slowly, and basically presents a major delay in my productivity.  But in the moments when he takes my hand and asks me to play, asks me to stop and look up at an airplane, or even shows me the treasure of a crunchy leaf, he gives me the chance to remember that being is more important than doing. My relationship with my son is much more valuable than any task I could accomplish.