The first day of October was my first day home. That morning I checked my email and saw a post from The Nester that challenged her readers to spend 31 days blogging about a specific topic. I passed over it on Monday thinking it was a good idea but not really wanting to commit to anything at all on my very first day at home. I thought about it again on Tuesday and again on Wednesday but still couldn't pull the trigger. Today I thought about it again and this time I decided to act on it. I mean, I did promise several weeks ago that I was "diving in" to the blogging world. And so far I've pretty much been sitting on the edge of the pool.
Anyhow, I've decided my topic will be discovering your purpose. I've already been on this journey over the last few weeks. I've been learning that I so often place my identity in the things I do, the possessions I have, the people I love. Not all the ways I identify myself are bad. But I know my true purpose can only be found in Him. So over the next 31 days I will be writing about what it looks like to "get it right". I'm a few days behind but I'm sure you'll forgive me.
Day 1: Slow down to find your purpose
For the last 8 months I have been home almost half of the time. I initially worked two days a week and then for the last month I worked everyday training my replacement. I've technically had time to "slow down". You would think when you are doing half as much as you used to be you should only be half as busy. That makes sense, right? Wrong! It took me the last 8 months to realize that "slowing down" isn't something that just happens when you cut out responsibilities and cut back on commitments....especially when you replace them with other responsibilities and commitments. You have to be deliberate about slowing down.
After two days of "being home" (running to home goods, going grocery shopping, meeting a friend for lunch, signing up for the gym, meeting a friend for a walk, going to the farmer's market, making
dinner, picking up diapers I forgot at the grocery store, deep cleaning the house, etc.), out of sheer exhaustion and without really realizing it, I spent all day Wednesday devoted to slowing down.
I took time to sit on the floor with my baby boy and I realized that he could pull himself up! How long had that been happening? I took a little extra time and chopped up some fruit for him. To my surprise he picked up the little pieces with his tiny little fingers and put them in his mouth one by one. He chewed and swallowed. Something so simple but so remarkable. If you are a mom I'm sure you can relate to the sense of pride you feel in this kind of moment. I wanted to run out the door and shout, "Hey everyone! My baby eats mangos!!!!"
The best moment came in the aisle of Big Lots. It was the "aha moment". I put the fluffy shopping cart cover in the seat and placed Max in it. He sat up like a big boy and we began to make our way to the back of the store. For some reason I felt the urge to just stop mid-aisle and look down at him. There he was looking right back up at me. He just smiled and looked right into my eyes and fixed his attention on me for what seemed like forever. His face said, "I'm so happy I'm with you, mom". I'm not sure how long I've been missing that look but I know one thing for sure....I don't want to miss it again. In that moment I saw a bit of purpose staring right back up at me. It's like God Himself smiled at me and said, "This is what you are meant to do." So, I will stop every now and again to look around. Really look around. I'll be present. I'll be still. I'll take it all in.
"Be still and know that I am God" - Psalm 46:10
Anyhow, I've decided my topic will be discovering your purpose. I've already been on this journey over the last few weeks. I've been learning that I so often place my identity in the things I do, the possessions I have, the people I love. Not all the ways I identify myself are bad. But I know my true purpose can only be found in Him. So over the next 31 days I will be writing about what it looks like to "get it right". I'm a few days behind but I'm sure you'll forgive me.
Day 1: Slow down to find your purpose
For the last 8 months I have been home almost half of the time. I initially worked two days a week and then for the last month I worked everyday training my replacement. I've technically had time to "slow down". You would think when you are doing half as much as you used to be you should only be half as busy. That makes sense, right? Wrong! It took me the last 8 months to realize that "slowing down" isn't something that just happens when you cut out responsibilities and cut back on commitments....especially when you replace them with other responsibilities and commitments. You have to be deliberate about slowing down.
After two days of "being home" (running to home goods, going grocery shopping, meeting a friend for lunch, signing up for the gym, meeting a friend for a walk, going to the farmer's market, making
dinner, picking up diapers I forgot at the grocery store, deep cleaning the house, etc.), out of sheer exhaustion and without really realizing it, I spent all day Wednesday devoted to slowing down.
I took time to sit on the floor with my baby boy and I realized that he could pull himself up! How long had that been happening? I took a little extra time and chopped up some fruit for him. To my surprise he picked up the little pieces with his tiny little fingers and put them in his mouth one by one. He chewed and swallowed. Something so simple but so remarkable. If you are a mom I'm sure you can relate to the sense of pride you feel in this kind of moment. I wanted to run out the door and shout, "Hey everyone! My baby eats mangos!!!!"
The best moment came in the aisle of Big Lots. It was the "aha moment". I put the fluffy shopping cart cover in the seat and placed Max in it. He sat up like a big boy and we began to make our way to the back of the store. For some reason I felt the urge to just stop mid-aisle and look down at him. There he was looking right back up at me. He just smiled and looked right into my eyes and fixed his attention on me for what seemed like forever. His face said, "I'm so happy I'm with you, mom". I'm not sure how long I've been missing that look but I know one thing for sure....I don't want to miss it again. In that moment I saw a bit of purpose staring right back up at me. It's like God Himself smiled at me and said, "This is what you are meant to do." So, I will stop every now and again to look around. Really look around. I'll be present. I'll be still. I'll take it all in.
"Be still and know that I am God" - Psalm 46:10
