Character

I’ve missed you, little blog!

I haven’t written in a few months, mainly because of our calendar, which somehow took on a life of its own this past fall. I went looking for things to erase from my to-do list, and I’m sorry little blog, but you were an easy cut, mainly thanks to a sermon by Pastor Colin Smith.

Around the time I was flipping out over my schedule, I heard Pastor Colin point out that most people look at their lives and ask, “What do I want to do?” But servant-hearted people instead ask, “What needs to be done?” And, “How can I be a blessing?” And my life suddenly felt less complicated. Will I bless my family more by having a hot dinner ready before the kids are melting down? Or by writing about them? Is it better to keep the house clean (well, clean-er) or keep up with my blog?

Of course, I’m oversimplifying things. I love to write and I’m a big believer in doing things you love on a regular basis, even when you have little kids. I also love reading blogs and I’m thankful for the many writers who continually roll out new, encouraging, and funny material (that would be you, Mom! And Jen Hatmaker. And the Heavenly Homemaker lady. I could go on…). But for me, for now at least, the decision is easy. I need less on my agenda.

Because here’s the thing: I cannot do it all. I just can’t. It was probably the biggest thing God taught me in 2012. I can’t write a weekly blog post, be a MOPS leader, work in the church nursery, volunteer at the Pregnancy Center, go to Bible study, and keep up with the meals and the laundry and the shopping and the cleaning and the diapers and the tantrums and the homeschooling, and still have time for my friends and my kids and my husband, oh and God too…

When I try to do too much, my priorities tend to flip upside down. And I don’t do anything well. Example: I lost and had to re-purchase three gift cards this past holiday season before we could give them away. Yes, three. (Thank the Lord for my sweet husband, who repeatedly told me it was okay and then ran out to buy replacements once I’d stopped crying.) Do the older women in the grocery store who tell me to leave my house messy so I can play more with the kids remember how it feels to lose your mind because your house is disorganized?

So for 2013 I have made an ambitious goal: to accomplish a whole lot less. For the sake of my family. And my sanity.

Lately God’s been leading me back to the basics, reminding me that how I do things matters more than what I accomplish on any given day. I don’t think He’s impressed when I check ten things off my to-do list and sign up for three new commitments if it means I’m distracted and stressed out at home. I think He’d rather see me grow in humility and learn to move at the pace of my two year old. I sense God asking me to spend less time at my computer this year and more time in His Word. Less time writing and talking, and more time listening.

And so little blog, we won’t be spending quite as much time together in 2013. Don’t worry. I’m sure I’ll stop by here and there. I’ve never been all that good at keeping quiet. But I’m going to try.

Happy 2013 everyone! I hope you have a wonderful year.