Quiet

The house is eerily quiet today.

The only sounds have been Chopin and the occasional tinkling of Pinky's collar as she changes nap positions. I don't know if I have heard this much quiet in thirty years.

Ron is at work. Kati will be away for (too) many more weeks. And Bekah spent the night with her niece and nephews last night. She was so excited. Every Sunday as Kristin and her family leave our house for home, the children all beg to have a sleepover. And every Sunday we remind them that they have school the next day and they do not have clothes or toothbrushes and that summer is coming. (The next part of this scenario is that they all act keenly disappointed, as if they thought that we would really say yes this time.) So at the beginning of summer, Kristin and I coordinated our calendars and scheduled in a few sleepovers. And last night was Bekah's night.

Here she is leaving the house yesterday afternoon, appearing to be leaving for an extended vacation. I suppose most girls have trouble packing light; there are just so many essentials.


It was a big day for Bekah, because it was also the day of her summer piano recital!

Here is Bekah surrounded by her supportive family who came out in the blazing heat to hear her play.

Photo by Ron (l to r): Gammy, Maddie, Bekah, Ben, Kristin, Owen, Brian, Gavin, me

Bekah left the recital with her big sister's family, after a quick smile and a wave (not even a hug, as she was already in the back seat of the van!)...and Ron and I left alone. Alone.

Well, we had a lovely evening—a quick errand, a relaxed dinner out, and then home to a movie and tiny Edy's ice creams for dessert.

But now it is today. And quiet. And I am getting a little taste of the empty nest which will probably be in my future. I have to say that I am not looking forward to it. I don't like change. I love being a mom. I love the company of my children and the camaraderie that homeschooling affords us. But, as I (slowly) adjusted to my two oldest children leaving the nest, I will make that adjustment again when the time is right. For now, I will continue to revel in the day-to-day with my girls. I will be grateful that I have this time with them.

In this quiet afternoon, I have had time to be quiet. I have thought about the concept of quiet.

One of my favorite devotional books is Keep a Quiet Heart by Elisabeth Elliot. In the opening devotional, Elisabeth talks about keeping our hearts quiet, even when life is not. She says, "A quiet heart is content with what God gives. It is enough. All is grace."

I want my heart to remain quiet, even after my little chatterbox returns from her overnight adventure bubbling over with stories. I want my heart to remain quiet, even as my emotions are fragile with missing the company of my dear Kati. I want my heart to remain quiet, even when life brings sorrow or sickness or parting or confusion or disappointment or tragedy. I have shared this poem by Amy Carmichael before. But it is also in Keep a Quiet Heart and I was reminded of it again today.

Thou art the Lord who slept upon the pillow,

Thou art the Lord who soothed the furious sea,

What matter beating wind and tossing billow

If only we are in the boat with Thee!

Hold us in quiet through the age-long minute

While Thou art silent, and the wind is shrill:

Can the boat sink while Thou, dear Lord, art in it?

Can the heart faint that waiteth on Thy will?

Father, keep my heart quiet.

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Followup: I just realized how well these thoughts go along with what Kristin posted recently. Take a moment and visit her here.