Letting go of being overwhelmed to be overwhelmed!

 As I wade through boxes, unpacking the last of our "stuff", I really wonder, what are these "treasures"?  They are distractions for me.  So much of it unused, yet someone sees value in it and doesn't want to let go.... Though we have a bigger house now, it is just too much.  And the greatest distraction for my kids takes up about 8x12x2"- this Chromebook that I'm working in now, but they find escape in.  Playing games and watching shorts.  I think my desire to engage with them, despite my task-oriented brain that wants to clear spaces, collides with their natural inclination to seek entertainment.  What is it that they're doing that is so wrong?  The main thing is not contributing to the solution of order and the goal of family time.  Family time.  It can be any time.  Our drive time is increased- we could be using that to have "family time".  

What is family time anyway?  Seeking entertainment together?  I think that's what we normally think of, born of all the vacations, game nights, deserts together, or nights out.  I think of Chris and I's dating days: we did "life" together, and when I got most upside-down was when I thought we "should be" dating: going out and finding a dopamine rush in something else together.  How do we do that without the extra pomp and circumstance?  I think of Paul's, "I have learned to be content in every circumstance", to sing praises no matter what.

No matter what, Satan will try to steal that from us: our song of praise.  Whether in plenty or in want, sickness or health, working or playing, whatever you can put a positive or negative twist to, Satan can highlight what is lacking.  It's a choice I get to make by the moment: am I seeing plenty and overflow, or am I seeing the speck that's missing or out of place?  Lord, help me to see clearly today, to see that our lives are overflowing with blessing and I have much to give.  Help me to clean out the thoughts and the things that bring me down, and please Lord, cover my mouth that I would not speak words that hurt others!

May I see the amazing in every moment today!


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What Joy awaits

Image
 The most amazing thing happened yesterday.  WOW!  And yet, it is not the most amazing thing, it is purely another, another, another act of God.  He is so good.  We must believe He is who He says He is and venture into relationship with Him to truly know.  Relationship means communicating, trusting, taking what looks like risky steps to do what He says to do, go where He says to go.  There is no loss greater than the blessing of walking with Him.  I'm not saying there will be no loss, but that the blessings as we steadfastly walk with Him will come.   I'm going to divert a little from the book that I've been working on to address this thing... the dark valleys and the mountain tops.  Some would say I just hit a mountain top, so of course I'm praising.  I have learned that I must continue to praise believing for the mountains.  This reminds me of my reading of Hind's Feet- I highly recommend this to anyone.  It is an a...
Read more

Recognizing my need for Aaliyah

Image
In Hebrew,  "Aaliyah" "Aaliyah" is transliterated as "אלין" (Aliyyah). It translates to "ascent," "rising," or "going up." This word is used to describe the process of immigrating to Israel, where Jews return to their ancestral homeland. It can also refer to the calling of a member to the Torah reading during synagogue services. my understanding, and the reason I named my daughter "Aliya", is that an Aaliyah is a journey...an intentional journey to meet God. This afternoon I read "the Be-Happy Attitudes" by Robert Schuller, chapter 2.   What is my need? What have I still not laid down before him?   My Wife-ing- I'm reading "Help Mate" by Debbi Pearl. I've been trying to change my husband into what I thought a man was supposed to be. My mothering- each of my kids is unique, and fostering and now adoption has been a roller coaster- is it because I'm trying to "maintain contr...
Read more

Using your talents, sharing testimony

Image
  Talents: Using What’s in Your Hands God placed unique skills, passions, and experiences within you for a reason. None of them are wasted—not your career background, your creative interests, or even your struggles.  I hope you can take some time to think about your journey, and thank God for even the hard times that brought you here.  And I hope that you can see how He's redeemed those hard times.   I'll take this opportunity to share my story.  It is multi-faceted, and there are so many areas that I can now look back and say, "God was working there," or, "He is now using that to bless and encourage others, but I'll take just the area of preparing me to be a foster and adoptive mom: I was in middle school and grinding through some difficult geometry homework in my bedroom when I heard my parents raising their voices, the dogs begin to bark in excitement, and accusations get slung back and forth.  Another fight!  I grabbed my younger brother and s...
Read more