Timeless Tuesday - Unrush Me

Sometimes I find myself rushing from one task or activity to another. When I find myself in too much of a rush mode, I try to stop, take a breath, and regroup.

Life isn't meant to be rushed through.

When we rush, our stress levels rise. Often, we become less patient with those around us. We may even try to hurry them up, too, which usually just causes more stress and irritability.

So let's try to slow down. Absorb the moments that make up your life. They don't have to be spectacular to be meaningful. Get back your joy. Let go of that frantic, always-one-step-behind feeling. Because what are we rushing to? Our certain deaths? Thanks, but I can wait for that. One slow, unhurried step at a time for me.

May your day be slow, unhurried, and filled with previously unseen beauty and wonder.

Linda

Thoughtful Thursday - Choose Well

Ann Voskamp is one of my favorite authors. Her One Thousand Gifts book has impacted my life in countless ways. This quote of hers, well, it's truth.

We choose what to put on our schedules every day, and also what we put on our kids' schedules, as well. We decide what will fill our days. We get to say what we'll do and what we won't do. When we add too many things to the calendar we start to feel it in our souls. Our shoulders tense, we glance at the every-moving clock, we hurry, hurry, hurry, and in doing so, miss out on life's beauty.

I use a self-imposed rule for my life. If I add something in, I must let something go. Last week someone asked me if I would consider leading a Bible study for young women. She said she needed something more in her life. I didn't hesitate. Of course I would. But my next question to myself was, What will I give up to do this? I'm still considering the answer. Maybe it will be one large, time-consuming thing or a few smaller things. But the point is, I'm choosing.

I choose not to be stressed out. I choose not to overschedule so I'm not too busy for the really important stuff. I choose not to live life in a constant, massive, stressed-out hurry. I choose joy. I choose to slow down and see the beauty around me in nature, in the faces of those I love, in exchanges between complete strangers, in the depth of sorrow, and in the joy of celebration.

How will you choose today? I pray you choose well.

Linda

Choose Joy

When [the wise men] saw the star, they were filled with joy! (Matt. 2:10 NLT). 

Linda

Lighten Up!

When's the last time you had a good laugh with your kids? Sometimes I become such a serious parent that I forget the joy of the job. When I lighten up a bit and laugh when I might have frowned or yelled, it's unbelievable how much better I feel. It's like a weight comes off the whole family and we can enjoy each other again. So try it. Feel like letting someone have it? Surprise them and laugh. Then watch relief spread over their face and enjoy the moment.