My Favorite Four Letter Word
Hear this post as you read it, letting it sink deep into your soul:
HOPE
Living Well in My Soul
How Much Weight do You Give Your Weight?
I am just going to say it. Weight is one of the least inspiring and most misleading ‘symptoms’ of living well I can think of. Sure, it tells us how heavy our bodies are—organs, cells, skin, bones, muscles, and water all added together to make a nice, neat little number. We look at a scale and can tell if that culmination has risen or fallen.
So, what?
You're Already Beautiful
Try telling a six year old she’s beautiful on the inside when someone’s making fun of her toothless smile and super sensitive ways. Talk to a four year old about why she’s lovely just the way she is after her eye’s been swollen shut from a bug bite and her sister can’t stop laughing.
One day. Two girls convinced of their ugliness despite my attempts to tell them otherwise.
You may think, ‘Oh, that’s just girls…they’ll grow out of it!’
The Key to Arriving at any Living Well Destination Quickly: Slow Down
My Dad has always told me to slow down. I probably sped up at times simply to establish my independence…okay, or to aggravate him! He’d urge us to relax as he watched Kevin and me bustling about sometimes crashing or complaining but more often gleeful and giggling in our dance of married life.
Dad’s advice didn’t faze our ways. We were content in constant movement!
Unfortunately Flawed or Wonderfully Made?
When the questions come fast and furious and I see her wheels spinning, I know we’re in for a fretful evening. She’s not unlike most of us when worry sets in and we’re sent into a frenzy. Except she’s six.
Somehow my dear, sweet six year old possesses the mind of someone much older. Her wonderful kindergarten teacher emailed me early last year to tell me she, unfortunately, has a mind much too mature for her age. Others express awe at her insatiable curiosity and desire for understanding.
From Brokenness to Blessing
On the night He was betrayed He broke bread and gave thanks. (ref. 1 Corinthians 11:23)
He GAVE THANKS.
I just let that sink right into my soul for my mind cannot grasp it. It lifts me up in awe and wonder at how I might carry on in His earthly example if He so selflessly gave gratitude out of betrayal. Jesus offered Himself up. He turned betrayal into blessing.
Is it possible, for me, I mean? How do I give thanks in the wake of betrayal, belittlement or brokenness? How in this humble human life can I transform grief into gratitude?
Work for Soul Rest
Sounds counterintuitive, doesn’t it? Work more to realize real rest. Give MORE effort to experience LESS stress. But that’s exactly what Hebrews 4:11 says, ‘Let us, therefore, make every EFFORT to enter that rest...’
My single-mommy heart desires it, the restfulness God promises if I make every effort. But how can I attain it when I’m out of energy to put forth any extra effort in an already overfilled day?!
Slow Starts & Savoring the Stops
It’s been a bit of a struggle lately. It’s a time of transition for me personally and professionally and little things that hold up the process keep popping up! It’s frustrating when progress slows or stops because of mistakes, missteps or outside disturbances.
But, instead of sulking, if it’s okay with you, I’d like to offer a prayer of gratitude…a little sharing of thanks for what keeps me growing and giving effort in the face of exhaustion. Strangely enough, I feel an ironic appreciation for what holds me back.