Recognizing Jesus's Presence in the Busyness of Life
- Amanda Torre
- Jun 3
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 19
Embracing Life's Changes
The last time I wrote my first blog was slightly over a year ago. I never intended for so much time to pass before writing this second blog. But… here we are. Life has a funny way of throwing curveballs. Since my last blog post, I joyfully welcomed another child into our home. He is now 4 months old!
I must confess that the past year has been quite chaotic. Adjusting to having five sons in our home has been an adventure. Most days, I have struggled to sense Jesus's presence due to the constant thoughts and tasks occupying my mind. I'm sure many of you reading this can understand that feeling.
The Journey of Mindfulness
As time went on, my practice of mindfulness with Jesus slowly got overshadowed by life's busyness. Back in December, I bought a Jesus plushie as a Christmas gift for my younger sons. Soon after it was opened, the Jesus plushie became just another toy lost in the chaos of their room.
One day, while we were worshipping in the living room, one of my sons brought the plushie out and placed it on the TV stand. It warmed my heart to think of Jesus sitting there, watching us worship. After that, the plushie remained on the TV stand because I cherished the thought of His presence in the room. Yet, eventually, Jesus plushie was forgotten once more.
Watching Us Daily
As days turned into months, the plushie watched as I prepared meal after meal. He saw me clean countless messes and celebrated family parties and gatherings. He was there for family dinners and helped us with our devotionals at night. He saw my children do their schoolwork, throw tantrums, and even engage in sibling rivalry over broken toys.
He witnessed my husband come home exhausted from a long day of work and my mother wake early to wash dishes so I wouldn’t have to. He even watched my newborn grow, developing adorable rolls of chubbiness that we all love. He watched it all, but did we see Him?
Sadly, no. We often get swept away by the distractions of life. For me, chasing after five sons frequently keeps me from noticing Jesus in our everyday moments. For you, it might be your phone, the demands of work, video games, or shopping.
Distracted but Drawn to Him
Ironically, the very things that often distract us from noticing Jesus can be the same elements He wants to use to draw us closer to Him. Jesus wants to encourage, comfort, teach, admonish, guide, and protect us in these moments if we can pause and recognize Him there.
Had I noticed the Jesus plushie sitting there while I cleaned and cooked, I would have felt encouraged. Such small acts serve God and create a loving atmosphere for my family. If I had focused on my Jesus plushie during my son’s tantrum, it might have helped me remain calm and communicate better.
If I had paid attention to Him during moments of frustration, like when a window was broken, I might have reacted with more grace. Recognizing His presence can indeed change our responses in different situations.
A Shift Towards Mindfulness
A few days before writing this blog, I became more aware of the Jesus plushie again. I made an effort to be mindful of Jesus being in the room. I paused to look at Him, even repositioning the plushie to be involved in our activities.
This simple practice has significantly shifted my mood, thoughts, and motivation. I share this to encourage you. If you find it challenging to recognize Jesus's presence, consider developing this practice again. For those who might be starting for the first time, having the Jesus plushie can make mindfulness easier, especially for children.
Integrating Jesus into Daily Life
I recommend placing the Jesus plushie at the dinner table. Bring it along for walks or to the park. Include Him while watching TV or during family gatherings. The goal is to bring Him into everything we do. After all, isn’t that what Jesus desires from us? He wants us to abide in Him.
Enjoy each moment with Jesus and notice how His presence can transform your thoughts, feelings, actions, and motivations. When we intentionally recognize His presence, life becomes more meaningful.
Finding Your Jesus Plushie
There are many varieties of plushies available online. The one I ordered can be found here.
My hope and prayer for you, as you grow in this adventure of being mindful of Jesus, is that you feel His presence in a real and tangible way. May your heart be warmed by the knowledge that the God of the universe watches over you, closer than you may have noticed.
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