Hearing God's Voice Through the Screams

I spend a lot of time talking about things that I feel like God is telling me, but sometimes it gets really hard to hear him when my two year old son starts the all too common screams of dissatisfaction.  Single or married motherhood puts a strain on time spent doing many other things including listening to the voice of God.  I try to make prayer and meditation the beginning of every day, but so many times it is rushed by the needs of my child or the pressure of getting to work so that I can feed my child or the impending waking of my child.  When I go to read my Bible he wants to write on it, and when I go to pray he wants to pull on my clothes or break something.  It is beyond frustrating. Even while writing this I have had to stop several times to do things for him.  All of this being said becoming a parent does not excuse us from cultivating our relationship with God.  I need to talk to God in the morning before I talk to anyone else.  I need to spend quiet time listening for encouragement and instruction from my creator.  So what does it take to stay connected with the only one who has all of our solutions in his hands?  I am finding that it takes preparation, determination, and faith.


Preparation:  I try to have a safe space for my son to play in and a snack that he can eat himself including a no-spill cup of water.  I even sometimes put my Bible and notebook in my bed with me so I don't have to get up and move around after I wake up. When possible I try to get up extra early too.  It's difficult and it isn't full proof, but I give it my best.

determination:  Once  I set a time it seems like everything in the world tries to take it.  I get so determined that I don't answer the phone, I ignore everything if I can.  I try not to even look at a clock.  I tell everyone I am busy and I am thinking about getting a sign on my door. A stand has to be made!

faith:  Once I have done everything that I can for my son and to alert my family that I am busy, I trust God to take care of my time and my son.  I believe that nothing bad will happen to my son and that I won't be late for work.  I can't worry about what else is going on while I am spending time with the Lord.

Now I can't say that I've got all of the answers.  Some days I fall asleep while praying, other days it seems like I only spend a millisecond with God.  However little time I get in I refuse to give up.  God needs to be first in my life because my relationship with him dictates everything else in my life.  Because I am a single mother I am the priest of my home, and I am responsible for teaching my son the right way to live.  I can't do that if I am disconnected from my Lord, and neither can you.  I know that it is hard, but lets try to continue to hear the voice of God even when our babies are screaming.  When I feel like I can't take it any more the holy spirit reminds me that it is a blessing that my son can scream because some people begged God to hear anything from their children and they never heard anything.  Lord thank you for giving my son the breathe to be able to scream, laugh, and talk with.  Amen.