Well...it's been about 5 months since my last post. But I have been meaning to write this one for awhile...just struggling to organize my thoughts. The past few months have been super busy for the Hutchings' clan. School...work...potty training....holidays...2 year old attitudes...painting...etc...etc. In the midst of all this chaos, however, God has actually been teaching me a lot about slowing down to be thankful. I know....slow down!??! Do I really have time for that?!?!
It started shortly after the holidays. At the time, there just seemed to be so much going on, so much that needed my attention, prayer, and energy. If you are like me, you sometimes find yourself on this survival treadmill. Ya know...the kind that never stops and you try to be ready for what's to come...yet what's right next to you always seems to go by in a blur. Being a mom is like this at times. We have so many responsibilities and roles to play each and every minute. So much time and energy is spent on duties and completing tasks. However, moments and blessings are missed when we are constantly running. Last night, I was making supper and I felt a tug at my leg. I looked down to see Rylee's sweet little eyes making a plea for me to stop and give her my attention. "Mommy....come here...will you please just hold me?"These little people are so good at reminding us to stop running and just be....and be thankful.
I have also been blessed these past 5 weeks to be a part of a great group of gals studying the book, One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. If you get the chance, please read it. I should warn you....if you are looking for a quick read...this may not be your book. However, it is worth your time and will hopefully give you new perspective as it did for me. Ann has great insight into living this one life we are given...and living it well. Along with the gentle reminders from my kiddos, this book has challenged me to SLOW down and not miss all the little blessings from God that I miss if I'm not looking...here are a few from the list I've just begun....
-colors painted in the sky at sunset
-kids sneaking away to jump on beds
-the little snore of a sleeping toddler
-hooded sweatshirts
-warm coffee on a snow day
You see, when I take time to notice...and take time to thank God for even the little things...there is a joy that builds up in my heart and I realize how blessed I truly am.
"Being in a hurry. Getting to the next thing without fully entering the thing in front of me. I cannot think of a single advantage I've ever gained from being in a hurry. But a thousand broken and missed things, tens of thousands, lie in the wake of all the rushing....Through all that haste I thought I was making up time. It turns out I was throwing it away."--Mark Buchanan
With all good things, it's easy to see God's hand and give thanks. But what about the tough things in life. You know..when you get that phone call you've been dreading...a life-changing diagnosis..a loss of a loved one...or a wounded relationship. What then?!? What about God's blessings and grace then?! This is a question I feel like we all long to answer when those hurts/challenges come our way. Whether we are going through that time right now or dealing with past hurts, the way we look at these circumstances changes everything. Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." When I look back at my life, I know that good came from circumstances/situations that I didn't understand at the time. During that time, was I looking for blessings or feeling helpless, wounded and angry? More than likely the latter. But living a life fully...a life of thanks should not be dependent upon our circumstances, but solely dependent on where our joy comes from. This is our perspective.
"That which seems evil only seems so because of perspective, the way the eyes see the shadows. Above the clouds, light never stops shining. "--Ann Voskamp
God has blessed me with a wonderful friend who is walking this walk right now. The hard walk...living with a thankful heart to God in the midst of uncertainty and setbacks. Her perspective is on the light that has never stopped shining...not on the clouds casting the shadows. God can teach us so much about how to live this one life well. Reminders from our children to just stop and be....taking time to write down blessings--big and small...and people he puts in our lives.
My list of gifts has just begun and so far has included everything from forgiveness to coffee creamer....but this act of being thankful is changing me. Could you join me and take time each morning to write 5 things you are thankful for before your feet hit the ground? Try it and see how your perspective changes....on living this one life you are given...well.
It started shortly after the holidays. At the time, there just seemed to be so much going on, so much that needed my attention, prayer, and energy. If you are like me, you sometimes find yourself on this survival treadmill. Ya know...the kind that never stops and you try to be ready for what's to come...yet what's right next to you always seems to go by in a blur. Being a mom is like this at times. We have so many responsibilities and roles to play each and every minute. So much time and energy is spent on duties and completing tasks. However, moments and blessings are missed when we are constantly running. Last night, I was making supper and I felt a tug at my leg. I looked down to see Rylee's sweet little eyes making a plea for me to stop and give her my attention. "Mommy....come here...will you please just hold me?"These little people are so good at reminding us to stop running and just be....and be thankful.
I have also been blessed these past 5 weeks to be a part of a great group of gals studying the book, One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. If you get the chance, please read it. I should warn you....if you are looking for a quick read...this may not be your book. However, it is worth your time and will hopefully give you new perspective as it did for me. Ann has great insight into living this one life we are given...and living it well. Along with the gentle reminders from my kiddos, this book has challenged me to SLOW down and not miss all the little blessings from God that I miss if I'm not looking...here are a few from the list I've just begun....
-colors painted in the sky at sunset
-kids sneaking away to jump on beds
-the little snore of a sleeping toddler
-hooded sweatshirts
-warm coffee on a snow day
You see, when I take time to notice...and take time to thank God for even the little things...there is a joy that builds up in my heart and I realize how blessed I truly am.
"Being in a hurry. Getting to the next thing without fully entering the thing in front of me. I cannot think of a single advantage I've ever gained from being in a hurry. But a thousand broken and missed things, tens of thousands, lie in the wake of all the rushing....Through all that haste I thought I was making up time. It turns out I was throwing it away."--Mark Buchanan
With all good things, it's easy to see God's hand and give thanks. But what about the tough things in life. You know..when you get that phone call you've been dreading...a life-changing diagnosis..a loss of a loved one...or a wounded relationship. What then?!? What about God's blessings and grace then?! This is a question I feel like we all long to answer when those hurts/challenges come our way. Whether we are going through that time right now or dealing with past hurts, the way we look at these circumstances changes everything. Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." When I look back at my life, I know that good came from circumstances/situations that I didn't understand at the time. During that time, was I looking for blessings or feeling helpless, wounded and angry? More than likely the latter. But living a life fully...a life of thanks should not be dependent upon our circumstances, but solely dependent on where our joy comes from. This is our perspective.
"That which seems evil only seems so because of perspective, the way the eyes see the shadows. Above the clouds, light never stops shining. "--Ann Voskamp
God has blessed me with a wonderful friend who is walking this walk right now. The hard walk...living with a thankful heart to God in the midst of uncertainty and setbacks. Her perspective is on the light that has never stopped shining...not on the clouds casting the shadows. God can teach us so much about how to live this one life well. Reminders from our children to just stop and be....taking time to write down blessings--big and small...and people he puts in our lives.
My list of gifts has just begun and so far has included everything from forgiveness to coffee creamer....but this act of being thankful is changing me. Could you join me and take time each morning to write 5 things you are thankful for before your feet hit the ground? Try it and see how your perspective changes....on living this one life you are given...well.
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