I am sure the first time Susannah did this her young kids thought she was playing a game – I am sure they tried to peep under and get her attention.

We could all do it – or do an equivalent. Putting your apron over your head isn’t that hard. That was her signal – she was withdrawing from the crowds, withdrawing from the noise and spending time with her heavenly Father. Susannah Wesley – a very busy woman with upto 10 kids around – is known for putting her head on the kitchen table, covered it by her apron. He withdrew from the noise to spend time with his Father. It is much easier to walk away from reading a book or blog post – we just put it down or click it away but how do we walk away from all the things that we need to do? This is a serious question – and no doubt the one that has driven those books and courses I saw on offer.īut what do we really need to find quiet from all the noise in our life? Jesus withdrew from the crowds regularly. Is this blog post itself just more noise? Sometimes we just have to turn off the noise – stop it all and sit and listen to quiet. But I couldn’t help but wonder if they are just more noise. I’m sure they are good, I’m sure they will be helpful. This morning I read of a few books and courses to help mums get back from being overwhelmed. It is like each activity creates its own sound wave in my head – and when the head gets full they start jarring with each other. There are things to do, books to read, people to see, projects to complete. Sometimes my life is so busy, so full that my head is full of noise. Pete looked at me weirdly – he wasn’t really making any noise! In reflecting on it he was busy that day, but yes, quiet – but I heard the movement as noise. Later on Pete asked me “What’s up?” I explained to him that Josh was so loud today and I just had to take him out. Eventually I whipped him up and took him out the back.

Once when Josh was just a toddler I was getting very antsy at church. In these situations I had to adjust my instruction – “well, will you please be still – or go outside and play!” My kids look up at me, a little confused – “but mum” they say, “we aren’t making any noise!” True story – this has happened a few times to me. “Will you please be quiet!” I say very firmly to my children – I’m obviously a little on edge this morning. Blogging today with the prompt word “surround” from Finding the Grace Within

How to turn off surround sound