Take Time to Be Holy

Ivan, his poor heart broken, silently fell with his tears into the comfort of sleep, while I washed dishes thinking I still had a chance to hold him.

Take time to be holy…remember that old song? It came to mind tonight as I looked at my soon to be six year old boy, face still red from crying, blue jeans and shirt he had worn all day still on him and all of it wrapped up in his quilt in bed. He went straight to the solace of slumber after a disappointing dinner that he never finished. He did try, once I told him that he had only 7 minutes left before I would be clearing the table and any chance of a some buttered bread with honey would be gone after that. He knew he was doomed though and his tears were ready before the timer went off. They came on cue and I washed him up gently, clearly he didn’t deserve to be lectured on time management at the table once again. Clearly, he was frustrated with himself already.

As I wiped his disappointed face I was mulling over my options. Could I somehow sneak a treat to him after his bath? Just something small, a gummy worm for picking up a few toys or something, I reasoned. Maybe it could work, but I need to get these dishes cleaned up first. I didn’t even question my priorities, the kitchen was in after-dinner shambles and needed straightening. Still my mind was on him. There was a quietness that he typically would have broken during this time. Where was he? Owen was taking a shower, Aron was cleaning up some board games he had gotten out, but there was not even a clinking of Legos to indicate that Ivan was anywhere around.

Finally, once the last dish had been rinsed off I headed upstairs to run a bath for Aron. He was quick to inform me that Ivan was in bed already.

“He doesn’t want to watch a movie mom, he doesn’t want to do anything.”

I don’t know if Ivan had actually spoken to Aron or not because when I peeked in at him he was soundly sleeping. I even nudged him and spoke and moved his quilt around a bit, but there was no response.

Why didn’t I hug him before I washed dishes? Why didn’t I make sure he was okay first? I doubt he’ll remember much of his pitiful evening tomorrow, but I will.

“Take time to be holy…” whispered the Holy Spirit. The words fell into my conscience and burrowed into my soul, convicting me with the sorrow that leads to repentance.

I didn’t tonight.

I took time to be neat and tidy.

I took time to be prepared for tomorrow.

I took time to check everything off my list, but I didn’t take time to be holy.

What does it mean to be holy? It means being in awe of God, being swept up in His plans and purposes so completely that everything else seems unnecessary. Tonight being holy would have been taking Ivan in my arms and sitting down with him and reading his library book until the remembrances of an unfinished dinner seemed very, very small. Being holy tonight would have been simply showing Ivan how much God loves him, by wrapping him into the tangible example I have so much opportunity to give.

I took time to check everything off my list, but I didn’t take time to be holy.

Ivan will get past this easily, I will get past it too, but I am marking it here for future reference. I will set myself up for redemption and grace and I will sing these words through tonight, remembering again that God must love me a whole lot. What patience He shows me in such gentle reminders of who I ought to be.

His saints who long ago wrote words of praise and conviction must be honored to know that He is continuing to use their poetic phrases to encourage fellowship and righteousness in believers over a hundred years after they were written. I have so often said, “I love hymns” but how much more I love my heavenly Song Leader who continues to pick them out just for me.

Take Time to Be Holy
Will­iam D. Long­staff, 1882

Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.
Make friends of God’s children, help those who are weak,
Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.

Take time to be holy, the world rushes on;
Spend much time in secret, with Jesus alone.
By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be;
Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.

Take time to be holy, let Him be thy Guide;
And run not before Him, whatever betide.
In joy or in sorrow, still follow the Lord,
And, looking to Jesus, still trust in His Word.

Take time to be holy, be calm in thy soul,
Each thought and each motive beneath His control.
Thus led by His Spirit to fountains of love,
Thou soon shalt be fitted for service above.