When I think of meditation, I do not picture myself crosslegged with my hands propped palm-up on my knees, thumb and index finger forming an O. Meditation for me is my purple chair, lights dim or off, cup of very hot tea in hand, thinking in the quiet of my humble home.
With an autumn chill in the air outside and the gas heater blazing inside, I sat down last night in the dark with a cup of Celestial Seasonings Tension Tamer. I thought for a long time. I closed my eyes and breathed in the steam from the cup, smelling the plants from the teabag as they were let loose in the hot water in my tea cup.
I love plants. I picture myself on a wooded mountain, or on an expanse of prairie, or by a river, picking. The mint, lemongrass, cinnamon, and all the other plants carried on the steam and up into the recesses of my mind as I breathe carry me away.
I think and I wonder how we humans, WHY we humans, let our lives become so complex and so cluttered that we don’t even have time to think some days.
In the flickering light I breathe and I close my eyes and I begin to think of the books of the bible. I say them in order in my mind and try to remember verses by heart. Genesis. I say a verse or two in my mind. (I wonder if I got them exactly right.) Exodus. I just read chapter 1 recently and I think about it. Leviticus. I’m rusty.
My mind moves to the new testament and I think of various books and verses that I love.
Then my mind moves to yesterday and the co-op we had here. I see the lovely faces of friends and hear the voices of children. A little friend in the group told me yesterday, with the wisdom that only a 5-year-old boy possesses, “I don’t like too much noise.” Then he said, “I like children. Little children.”
I got the first point he made. I tire of so much noise too. I also got the second point. I like children too, but I wonder why he specified little children.
This morning I was reading this quote:
It is more fun to talk with someone who doesn’t use long, difficult words but rather short, easy words like “What about lunch?”
Winnie the Pooh said that. 
It shed a little more light on the comment from my 5-year-old friend. And I agree. I like little children too. They are simple in their conversation and stay focused on the important things like getting fed.
I look at the clock and realize I’ve been sitting in the dark in my purple chair and sipping tea for only 20 minutes. It feels like an hour and I know it’s because time goes slower if you’ll just slow down.
I awoke this morning knowing it was a work day for me. Soon after opening my eyes, my mind began to fill with dozens of thoughts that stressed me. Already. And my feet had not even hit the floor. I decided not to let that happen. These days I know that to do one or two things a day, with a meaningful purpose is better than a dozen things that I won’t even remember (and Michaela won’t remember) a year from now.
I am focusing on only a handful of things today. My work, which is a huge blessing for our family. A simple meal tonight and family around the table. Finishing up Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Three things. Everything else will be chance and circumstance and I’ll just remember the smell of those plants and how just last night I was picking herbs in the Appalachian Mountains, and I’ll be okay.
Lynn
for you to leave a comment, but you can also e-mail me at lynn AT thehealthyhomeschool.com
Thank you.
p.s. Farmer Boy was one of my favorite books from the series – it used to make us so hungry when we read it aloud together that I’d have to promptly make some cornbread and baked apples!
Dear Lynn,
You write such lovely thoughts. Thank you so much for sharing this.
We are almost ready to begin reading Farmer Boy within the next week! It is Tristan’s favorite of the whole series…We always wish for snow when we read it!
Have a happy weekend,
Valerie
Wow, I really needed that today. My morning started out in such a frenzy not helped by my 3 yo’s meltdown…haven’t felt right all day – til now.
Thank you.
Dear Lynn,
You have captured an image and a mind set that will surely lead you to a warm, comfortable peace. The photo is so inviting and the tea a treasured simple pleasure. Thank you for the words so dear.
Have a peace filled day,
Diane
Beautiful text, Lynn! It`s so true. Many times we forget what really is important and precious and we loose the little and simple things.
Little children… my faves to talk to. They are always fun and genuine.
I also love to drink tea and think in the silent of the night, when the kids are sleeping and the house is in silence. Read my Bible and listen God`s voice… Oh… precious moments!
Hug.
Just lovely Lynn. You have such a talent for writing such beautiful things.
Dear Lynn,
Ah, yes, words to take to heart! How easy it is to get sidetracked and too unnecessarily busy. Sitting by a gas stove would be a little more meditative than sitting by the furnace’s heat register!
Lucky.
Love,
Marqueta
I love your comments. I am one that doesn’t spend enough time resting. You are encouraging me to do more.
I love how you listen. I know Daniel does too and that is why he talks to you (and just loves you!).
Thank you for an amazing job at co-op. I loved spending time at your house and can’t wait to see you again!
Love
Leslie
Liane, we’ve said the same thing! Farmer Boy makes us sooo hungry!
Thanks, Valerie! Michaela didn’t think she’d like Farmer Boy because it was a switch from reading about Laura and Mary, but she loves it!!
Pam, it’s so hard to take time like that with little ones. I hope your day slowed down a bit and you got to put your feet up.
Diane, thank you so much. It’s so important to slow down sometimes and I often forget to.
Rute, it is indeed easy to get so busy we forget to take that time. A quiet evening with bible and tea is wonderful!
MamaHen, thank you. xoxoxo
Marqueta! LOL. Yes, you are right. And a fireplace is even more lovely than my gas stove, but how about a candle or a hurricane lamp of some kind? I just always had to tell my little ones to be careful around candles, etc. They want to toast marshmallows when the candles come out. LOL
Leslie, thank you so much. What is so funny is that we didn’t really even talk about Charles Russell (which we intended to) or the first official trek west with Lewis and Clark (which we meant to), but I think it turned out great. I love all of your children. You are such a good mommy and it shows in your sweet children.
Yesterday, in the late afternoon, I was draining and cleaning my small garden pond. I was apparently stepping on bits of mint plants under other dense plantings. Because the scent wafted up to me. And it just eased tensions I didn’t even know I had away. Amazing tonic, those herbs!
Brenda
Hey sweet friend,
Please take the pics you want. I will try to upload some more so you can choose from more of them.
Love you!
Leslie
just wonderful, Lynn….just wonderful. Your words are just the ones I needed to hear. Life can get busy and hectic and cause us to lose sight of what is important. Thank you for sharing….♥
Brenda, thank you so much for your comment.
Plants do the same thing for me. I love that!
Leslie, thank you! You got some very good pictures. Thanks so much. Love you!
Sandra, thanks for stopping by.
Life is way too hectic sometimes. I have to make myself slow down and enjoy quiet time. Hugs to you.
Lynn, you painted such a beautiful picture of what it means to really rest and relax. I need to do more of that. And I like the part where you said you were focusing on 3 things for the day. Thanks for the inspiration to slow down.
Kisha, thank you. I am finding it a huge help to say there’s only so much that can be done in a day and picking my priorities and holding fast.
Lynn
Ahhh! Beautiful thoughts to remind me to slow down and enjoy…
Missy, I help myself so much when I remind myself to slow down.
Lynn