How Many Times Do I Have to Tell You? Be Still
In the beautiful, glorious chaos of family life, finding a moment of peace can be a challenge. Our home, especially during mealtimes, felt like an anthill of activity. There’s a delightful order in the chaos as someone folds towels, another sets the table, orange juice gets poured, and eggs are scrambled. Then, there’s a hush, and we would eat. Despite the exhaustion as a parent—or perhaps because of it—we cherished these moments of stillness amid the day’s chaos.
There’s a yearning for peace, a desire that becomes pronounced at nighttime when the children are finally asleep. It’s in these moments of tranquility that we marvel at the stillness. This serenity serves as a reminder of the importance of teaching our children the value of being still, a theme that’s the focus of one chapter of Rachel’s book, How Many Times Do I Have to Tell You?
Telling Our Kids to “Be Still”
“Be still” is a phrase we often used around our home. It became a common phrase, especially during our homeschooling days. Initially, as parents, we might wish our children to be still at all times, but that expectation is unrealistic and can be counterproductive.
Teaching Moments of Stillness
Young kids are naturally energetic, and demanding uninterrupted stillness during activities like reading or math often hinders their ability to absorb and engage with the material. Instead, we can teach them the skill of discerning when being still is appropriate while also providing them the freedom to express their physical energy when it is not.
Our family found that focusing on specific times for stillness—such as during church services and mealtimes—helped our children learn when it was important to be calm and attentive. Church services fostered a family-centered experience where moving attentively helped deepen their spiritual engagement. Mealtimes became another space to practice sitting together and respecting the rhythms of conversation and connection.
These moments weren’t just about sitting quietly; they were about learning control and focus. Stillness isn’t about always being inactive but about recognizing the right moments to hit pause.
When God Says “Be Still”
But the phrase “be still” carries a deeper spiritual message. We often allow ourselves to get caught up in the busy. And sometimes God is saying, “I really want you to be still. I really want you to stop doing this, stop chasing after that, and stop turning that on or looking at that. And I just want you to be still.”
Psalm 46:10 encourages us to “Be still and know that I am God.” This passage reminds us to let go and trust Him. We humans have limitations, but God does not. The Sabbath was made for us, and observing it helps us acknowledge our limits and depend more on the Father. So, remember the Sabbath, go for a calming walk, and take time for prayer.
Conclusion
There’s this double standard that we want our kids to do this, and yet we’re not doing this. We’re chasing around after all of the things in the world. We’re letting ourselves be distracted, and we’re busying ourselves. While we teach this to our kids, it’s equally important that we adults make time for stillness, too. It helps us lead by example and enriches our lives. So, let’s find those moments to pause and appreciate the calm they bring. Let’s learn from what we are trying to teach our children and find balance in the vibrant chaos of life.