As many of you have picked up by now, Brady is a persistent, energetic little guy.  Lately, one of his new favorite phrases is, “Mommy, come play with me.”  I loved hearing this the first couple of days he said it.  However, now after several weeks of hearing this request 10 -20 times a day, it has lost a bit of its luster, and I occassionally find myself annoyed at the constant request for my time and attention , especially when I am trying to complete a task or when I have just played trucks and diggers for the umpteenth time that day.  

Reflecting on this, though, I am reminded that one of the greatest gifts we can give each other is time.  That may mean giving someone our focused, undivided attention.  That may mean giving someone we love time and space to go do something they love and enjoy to refuel.  That may mean stopping what we are doing to go give our children the time and attention they are requesting of us (I know they may not always be asking to spend time with us).

It is all about discerning our “greater yes” in our day to day moments.  It is a rare occasion in my day to day life that the task I am working on when my children are awake deserves more attention than answering the request of “Mommy, come play with me”.  This is a challenge for me as a person who loves to check items off her to do list, but I know I am called daily to discern my greater yes in each moment. 

How do you respond to the request from people in your life when they say, “come play with me”?
–Orginally posted January 2010, but I reflection I needed to read again as two kiddos seem to be asking me to stop and “come play” a good bit these days. 

Becky Eldredge

Becky is an Ignatian-trained spiritual director, retreat facilitator, and writer. She is the author of the Busy Lives and Restless Souls (March 2017, Loyola Press) and The Inner Chapel (April 2020, Loyola Press). She helps others create space to connect faith and everyday life through facilitating retreats and days of reflection, through writing, and through spiritual direction. With nearly twenty years of ministry experience within the Catholic Church, Becky seeks to help others discover God at work in the every day moments of people’s lives by utilizing St. Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises and the many gifts that our Catholic faith and Ignatian Spirituality provide.