So, in case you've forgotten, August LOVES Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. It's one of the 3 shows I have set to record every episode for him. I've been geeking out over it lately too. I'll be one of the first in line when You Are My Friend comes out.
Anyway, in the middle of February, PBS was celebrating the 50th anniversary of Mister Rogers debuting on TV. I recorded the episodes that week and watched them with August. They were so relaxing to watch! I was all excited to see the puppets and sing along. These episodes were some from the 70's so it was pretty fun to see the costumes too!
As Mister Rogers talked, it was usually just him talking. Today in kids shows a lot of the talking has a small amount of music playing in the background. There were also long pauses between things. It was very calming. Throughout the years, more noise has been added and added to the things we watch and it's introduced earlier and earlier.
I'll admit, our TV is on the majority of the time. A lot of the time it's just noise. Right now I'm in another room while the TV is on and no one is watching it. When we are in the living room watching TV, chances are we are doing other things while we watch. I might be doing puzzles with August, we might be reading books to him, folding laundry, playing farm, sewing. A lot of the time, we just have it on for noise.
Last summer, our TV went out of commission and it was over a month before we got it replaced. It was quiet and when we did replace it, I forgot how loud it was with a TV!
What are we missing when the TV has added noise? I think about the pauses on Mister Rogers when he was talking about a life lesson and emotions. Those pauses give kids time to process. Time to reflect.
When I go without the TV or radio...or an audio book, it gives me time to process and reflect as well. There are times when I shut things off in the car and just sit and pray as I drive. There are times on Saturday mornings that I get up earlier and do something involving my hands where I can also just think and pray. There are many times at my desk at work that I just stare at a brick while I think about what to do next.
God calls us to be still to know Him. Psalm 46:10- Be still, and know that I am God. Typically when I think of be still, I think still my body and rest in His presence. How often do we take it that step further and cut out the noise that can keep us from being still? It is my goal to cut out some of the extra noise in my life to help me be still.
