Sunday, August 4, 2013

Secret Life of Christian Women: What To Do When Life Changes

Retrieved from Google
As I sit at a coffee shop enjoying my hour of silence with my favorite Iced Chia Latte coffee, I reflect on life before having a family. On a Saturday night, I would hang out with my best friend and laugh for hours. Now, time alone is limited and a treat. At times I catch myself complaining about my lack of sleep and heading to Walmart for the third time in one week. During one of my frustrating times I was reminded that this is a day, hour, and season of life that I will never see again. 

Ecclesiastes 3 talks about the different seasons of life. “A time to cry, laugh, die, a time for war and peace, a time to keep and throw away."

 I was having a conversation with one of the elderly women in my church and she said, “We are so busy raising children, that we miss out on the joy of having them.” Wow! Would you agree with what she stated? If no kids are at home, we may miss out on life by wishing we had our kids back home, which is not what God wants us to do.

My mother who is in her mid-60s never recovered when her three children left home. I remembered her saying, “This is all I ever lived for and now I don’t know what to do.” When I speak with her on a weekly basis, she always reminisces on the past instead of the present or her future. I can honestly say, I have been doing the same thing lately. Today I told my neighbor, “I remembered sleeping in until 10 or 12 on Saturdays before having a kid, I am really missing those days.” I could feel the conviction after that conversation.

Are you doing the same things? Wishing for another season or cleaning, cooking and shopping that you are missing out on the most important times in life? Here are 3 suggestions to help you enjoy the present.

  • Laugh more! Psalm 126:2: Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them."
  • Be MINDFUL (present).  Do you ever wonder how you made it to the store, or answered yes to a question? Mindfulness in communication basically means to be fully present in the moment. Are you present?

  • Start creating memories in your head and take lots of pictures. At certain times, I stop, breathe and enjoy what my son is doing (I also take a picture). There is something about stopping, breathing, enjoying the moment and taking a picture. I can remember every one of those moments. Try it and let me know if it works for you.

 What to do when life changes? Enjoy it and allow God to receive the glory during good, bad, frustrating and challenging times!


 So……are you living in the Past, Present, or future?  What are you doing NOW to enjoy the present?







12 comments:

  1. Thanks Val, I hope that all is well with you today!

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  2. Sound advice. Thank you for sharing this :-)

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    1. Thanks so much for stopping by. I just had a chance to visit your website and really loved the first thing I read, "He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace." I needed that today!

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  3. Wise words from your friend, and unfortunately very true. We seem to be driven to 'do it right' when raising our children that we miss out on much of the joy.
    We no longer have babies and toddlers in our home, but we are still raising our youngest ones, with grown married children out on their and grandchildren as well. Thank you for these reminders today.
    (Visiting from Monday Musings)

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    1. Hi Linda, thank you so much for stopping by! Happy Wednesday!

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  4. Hi Delora! I am coming to you from Encourage 24/7

    I was just thinking about the whole "what do you want to do when you grow up" question. I had a career in nursing, but I got a little burnt out. Now what? I was facing the "what do I want to do when I grow up" again.

    Maybe that's your mother too. We are always changing, and sometimes it's hard to keep up!

    So fun to find your blog today!
    Ceil

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    1. Thanks so much for stopping by Ceil. I stopped over to your website and read your blog and really loved reading " I hear: “Bloom where you’re planted.”
      I think: “That depends.” I needed that to remind me sometimes change is good! I look forward to staying connected.

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  5. I still slip into the those days were better mindset but try to live in the present after a horrific accident in hs. These days with my two littles though I have had my moments. Stopping by from the linky.

    Bobbi
    http://www.texasbobbi.com

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    1. Thanks so much for stopping by. Living in the present is such a great thing to always do. I think about what the Bible states, why worry about tomorrow (Matt 6:34).

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  6. I love this! The one thing about having a large family with littles and growns is that I catch myself much faster when I get into the "downs" about cleaning up little fingerprints or picking up little shoes... I know that pretty soon those "little shoes" will be replaced by big boy size 12 clompers that I trip over... and soon after that, will miss desperately. My oldest daughter is grown, gone and married. My oldest son has only one more year at home before college... I think I'm driving him a little nutso with the "I love yous" but he is a tolerant young man and realizes how much mama will miss him!

    Thanks so much for commenting on my banana bread recipe. It's so nice to hear that other people are enjoying the things we share!

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  7. Thanks so much for stopping by. Yes, I really love your banana bread recipe!

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