Noise and (in) abundance

The noise. There is just a lot. There is almost constantly one voice or another talking in my midst, and most often directly to me. Even Lochlan can be heard periodically (to my great surprise and delight). I have four boys, and they all have the ability to be heard. Their voices are beginning to change from boyhood into manhood and with that change comes other challenges: I don't always know who's speaking to me. :-) 

Each of the boys is a wealth of knowledge and information and they want/need to tell me about the things that interest them. They are passionate about so many things and are filled with life and it constantly spills over. I know others outside our household find the noise to be overwhelming. 

This... is a joyful noise. There's no "tolerating it", "surviving it", "putting up with it". Honestly, it's a tremendous lot to process on an almost constant basis, but this "noise" reflects bright minds full of interest (in knowledge and in others), and it reflects LIFE! These four are alive today, living to the fullest alongside me and I am deeply changed for the better because of that reality. They inspire me. 

Parenting these humans requires me to become the better part of myself, too. Each day I must set aside much of my own agenda, clean up messes I didn't create, prepare meals for an army, I have to filter information and "noise" that my brain is sometimes too tired to process, choose gentleness when a harsh response is instinctive. I am constantly reminded that I am ultimately in control of nothing, but am utterly dependent upon someone much greater than myself to orchestrate what is to be in this day, in tomorrow, in all of life ahead. There is an almost constant chipping away of my own will and plan for and in any given day and it is good for my heart, if not also a bit exasperating and painful at times. 

Yesterday, Declan went for a walk with me and we ended up sitting on a bridge that Uncle Mark made over his creek. The sun in the tops of the trees was reflecting off the water and giving it a mesmerizing hue. We talked for a long time about some of the things he has been wrestling with in his heart. I am astounded at his wisdom. 

So, I watch. I listen. I absorb. And I am thankful. I will not always be surrounded by this much joy-filled noise. It is an abundant life.