Kairos

I'm not sure I've ever read a blog post that really spoke to me ... until I read Don't Carpe Diem by Glennon Melton at Momastery.  It obviously spoke to millions of busy moms just trying to keep their sanity while also not letting their kids' childhoods slip away because the article went viral and she is now getting a book deal.  If you haven't had a chance to read it, I've copied an excerpt below because the kairos moments that she speaks of perfectly describes my first kite flying experience with my kids.

There are two different types of time. Chronos time is what we live in. It's regular time, it's one minute at a time, it's staring down the clock till bedtime time, it's ten excruciating minutes in the Target line time, it's four screaming minutes in time out time, it's two hours till daddy gets home time. Chronos is the hard, slow passing time we parents often live in.

Then there's Kairos time. Kairos is God's time. It's time outside of time. It's metaphysical time. It's those magical moments in which time stands still. I have a few of those moments each day. And I cherish them.

Like when I actually stop what I'm doing and really look at Tish. I notice how perfectly smooth and brownish her skin is. I notice the perfect curves of her teeny elf mouth and her asianish brown eyes, and I breathe in her soft Tishy smell. In these moments, I see that her mouth is moving but I can't hear her because all I can think is -- This is the first time I've really seen Tish all day, and my God -- she is so beautiful. Kairos.

Like when I'm stuck in chronos time in the grocery line and I'm haggard and annoyed and angry at the slow check-out clerk. And then I look at my cart and I'm transported out of chronos. And suddenly I notice the piles and piles of healthy food I'll feed my children to grow their bodies and minds and I remember that most of the world's mamas would kill for this opportunity. This chance to stand in a grocery line with enough money to pay. And I just stare at my cart. At the abundance. The bounty. Thank you, God. Kairos.

Or when I curl up in my cozy bed with Theo asleep at my feet and Craig asleep by my side and I listen to them both breathing. And for a moment, I think- how did a girl like me get so lucky? To go to bed each night surrounded by this breath, this love, this peace, this warmth? Kairos.

These kairos moments leave as fast as they come- but I mark them. I say the word kairos in my head each time I leave chronos. And at the end of the day, I don't remember exactly what my kairos moments were, but I remember I had them. And that makes the pain of the daily parenting climb worth it.

Finn had been talking about wanting to fly a kite with his daddy for awhile.  So on the morning of his birthday party, we let him open one gift....it was a monkey kite.  And there just happened to be a Kids and Kites Festival at Montrose Beach that morning where we were able to try it out.  So we all loaded up in the minivan and went to a hill near the beach where at least 100 kite fliers were out with their kites.  And we let the monkey kite go.  At first, we were having some trouble getting it to stay in the air and Finn was getting frustrated that Daddy was having to help him.  But after mom took over, we got that kite 200 feet in the air and Finn was able to fly it all by himself.  And Lourdes and Sabine took turns too.  And it was 80 degrees and sunny.  And Finn's Gigi and Papa were there.  And my husband who worked a bazillion hours that week was up and out flying a kite with his kids.  And we were all so happy.  And the kids looked absolutely perfect - tiny and funny and happy and beautiful.  And the stress of working and raising 3 kids melted away.  And I was awestruck by how amazingly blessed and lucky I am.  Thank you, God.  Kairos.