I used to look at adults and think they had it all figured out. It seemed adulthood was rather boring. And then…as all things, I entered into adulthood where there are surprises around every corner if you are watchful. Oh to be a life-long learner.
- This past year, I have felt and understood and been overcome with the pursuit of the Love and Grace of God so distinctly. There are times my love can grow cold and rote, and I live forgetful of the awe and majesty and wildness of God. He is not contained in my understanding. I cannot outrun Him. I am His by His decree and by His work, and I am held and matured by His love. His love and goodness endure forever. He continually draws me back to Him–sometimes gently, sometimes fiercely. Always with my good and His glory in mind. Therefore, He is where my soul rests.
- I am more broken and weak than I ever thought possible. The point of my life is not to cover that up, but it is to press into Him. It is To share the beauty of favor that I do not earn and cannot spin. I get to share that with others. Growing up, I was striving for perfection in acting a certain way. My brokenness was there, I just did not face it. Grace=Freedom Self Righteousness and armor=Prison of my own making
- I am a yeller–gulp. Aka, parenting and shepherding children is dang hard. It strips you down to studs of your foundation to show what’s really there. Thankfully, I have a great partner in which to parent alongside, and we each have a child that tends to lean toward our own brand of personality. It’s an hilarious experiment of madness:). Greg and I always say “our children are not boring!”
- The 40s have out trumped the other decades! I think it’s the freedom of getting to the point where I know my limits and I know myself in a truer sense of the word instead of trying to meet the impossible expectations of others. Hopefully, I am moving from roles I play to the person God has created and called me to be. There is great freedom in being me. I am learning that I disappoint people, and that is part of life instead of the gravest sin. (which I realize has always been my unwritten mantra) Maybe God has to drain us of the energy of our 20s and 30s in order to see this reality. There is a lot more laughter needed as time goes on!
- RF has been one of the biggest surprises. I have learned that I can learn new things, grow in things outside of my box, have an outlet for fun and relationships outside of my traditional roles, be a provider financially, and lead in my own way. I can do hard things! That’s what we say to our children every week, and God has shown me that over and over again in my business. Truthfully, I examine every year to see if is is where I need to be investing my time. I wrote a list the other day of gains and losses instead of pros and cons. When I speak about the gains, I don’t think of a car (which I am thankful for) or the financial provision (which I do not deserve but is VERY helpful for our family) first. Because, if you know me, I am not driven by money in the long haul. I reflected the other day about the outlet it has been to be me during a season of raising littles where you begin to feel like you are a robot on a treadmill. It has been an outlet for me to travel, to adventure, to remember what it is to laugh and to have fun, to see growth in areas monthly that I cannot trace in other areas of my life, to grow in confidence in speaking and leading, to shepherd women I would never know in my bubbled off world, and to share truth and encouragement. All I thought was I am going to swallow my pride and sell some skincare in order to help my family financially until I could do something more respected to serve others with my giftings. Jokes on me…God can use us anywhere, we just have to keep our eyes and hearts open.
The Art of Coming Alive 