How to Love the Life You’ve Got
Hello! Welcome to all who are stopping by from Proverbs 31 Ministries today. And happy new year to my new friends and old!
I’m always honored to share a few minutes with you here at the Overflow! If you like what you find here, feel free to subscribe to my posts by signing up on the side bar. Or connect with me on Facebook or Twitter for weekly encouragement. Better yet, I’d love to meet you in person! I’m scheduling speaking events for 2017 and I’d be delighted to deliver a message of encouragement at a ministry event near you this year.
Over at Encouragement for Today, I’m sharing a tale of two sisters and talking about how to live a brave and beautiful life. I hope you’ll check it out, but before you go, I’d love to tell you a story about a dusty old rock, a little boy with a big imagination, and a woman who taught me how to love the life I’ve got rather than wishing for the one I think I want.
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I was mopping up a puddle of spilled milk when I first uttered that simple prayer–
Lord, help me love the life I’ve got.
The sky was beginning to shimmer with the pink hope of morning light, but I was already wishing the day were done.
The baby was crying in the high chair and the toddler was waddling around in a saggy diaper that smelled like a garbage truck. The five-year-old was squealing that her pancakes had grown cold and the school-agers were asking me to find their missing library books.
It wasn’t a bad day. It was just another day.
Another day of diapers and dishes; of mini-van mayhem and homework helping.
Another day of sand-box play and sandwich-making, tantrums and tuck-ins.
Another day of answering a five-year-old’s whys and calming a baby’s cries.
Just another day.
But that’s what made my heart feel gray
My life wasn’t miserable; it was just mundane. It wasn’t painful; just pedestrian.
And sometimes I found myself wishing that I could trade my ordinary life for another one–one that was quieter or cleaner, more adventuresome or more fun.
But on that morning as I kneeled under the table mopping up that pool of milk, I remembered a conversation I’d had with a friend as we’d sat on the edge of the sandbox and watched my children play at our feet.
This was my friend who’d raised three children and prayed a prodigal home, the one who’d passed through quiet canyons of pain without growing bitter and waded through whirling waters of discouragement without drowning in fear. This was my friend who oozed joy and radiated peace, who laughed easily and hummed happily, who gave generously and loved lavishly.
Her life hadn’t been easy, but her heart seemed to be always at ease.
“What’s your secret?” I’d asked as I’d watched my preschooler patting a pile of sand into his little orange bucket. “You just always seem so happy….”
My friend had turned her head and held my gaze, then she’d reached for my hand and had given my fingers a warm squeeze:
“Years ago, I asked God to help me love the life I’ve got rather than wish for the life I think I want.”
I’d let her words pierce my heart, and swallowed down a lump of rising tears.
I was filled with dreams for the future, but what I really needed was passion for the present.”
We’d watched an orange-bellied bird balance on a tree branch above our heads and I’d admitted my need.
“Just ask God for it,” my friend had whispered. “God loves to answer that prayer.”
I was pondering her words that morning as I changed that stinky diaper and tracked down those missing library books, as I scrubbed the breakfast dishes and chased my school-agers out the door.
Lord, help me love the life I’ve got instead of wishing for the one I think I want.
The baby giggled and the toddler twirled happy to the melody of our wee one’s laughter.
And I felt a yearning deep inside to embrace the beauty of the life right under my feet.
But how?
How do I live with passion in the present?
And then I realized, my friend had already answered that question on that day at the park when we’d sat on the edge of the sandbox.
As we’d chatted, my preschooler had sidled up beside us, his orange bucket brimming with sand.
Then, with a dramatic bow, he’d offered my friend a piece of the sand “cake” he’d just made.
She’d smiled and extended her palms like a platter. And with a wink, she’d invited my son to pour his bucket-full of golden grains into her waiting hands .
She’d pretended to eat the cake with satisfied murmurs; then she’d let the sand run through her fingers until all that was left in her grip was a sprinkling of grit and a dusty white rock.
“What is this?” my friend had asked as she’d pointed to the rock.
“Oh, it’s a diamond,” my preschooler had said with a grin. “I used it to decorate the cake. Ya know, ’cause diamonds are beautiful.”
My preschooler had glowed with a bashful streak of crimson pride until the little girl beside him entered the conversation. She’d poked at the rock in my dear friend’s hand. “That rock’s not very beautiful,” the wary sandbox dweller had declared with a wrinkle of her freckled nose.
My little baker had given the nay-sayer a backwards glance, and he’d stared at the small dusty rock once more.
I’d watched as the sparkle drained from his eyes and his shoulders drooped, sad.
Just then my wise friend rolled the dingy stone around in her hand and began to polish it with the edge of her shirt. Methodically, she’d wiped down every side of that not-so-beautiful rock. And when all the grit had been rubbed off, she’d lifted that little stone toward the sun.
And in the luster of the midmorning light, we’d noticed how subtle streaks of silver and polk-a-dot pink sparkles shimmered across the surface of that not-very-beautiful rock.
My friend had smiled at my son. “It sure looks beautiful to me,” she’d said. And with a chuckle, she’d wrapped an arm around him and slipped that gritty diamond in his pocket.
My simple prayer hung in the air as I pictured that shimmering stone.
And all I realized that my question had been answered as I’d sat with my friend in the warm morning sun.
How do we love the life we’ve got?
We search for the murky diamonds beneath our feet as we follow our Savior through the hours of our ordinary days and we polish them with gratitude.
And then we lift the pieces of our pedestrian lives up to the ever-shining Son and we give thanks…
For the sound of laughter swelling in the backyard, the sticky fingers that reach for ours, the shadows that dance on the sidewalk, the song of the birds in the trees–
And, suddenly, our ordinary moments of grit sparkle with an extraordinary sheen of grace.
So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you:
Take your everyday, ordinary life—
your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—
and place it before God as an offering.
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As promised, today I’m giving away this sweet little block that says, “If you love the life you live, you will live a life of love.”
I think it’s the perfect reminder to be passionate about our present instead of pining for the future.
If you’d like to enter for your chance to win, just leave us a comment and tell us what you love most about your life right now.
Have a wonderful weekend, friends!
Alcia, thank you so much for reminding me how precious each day is! We tend to take life for granted, when each moment is a gift from God! I loved your devotion on Proverbs 31.
I’m going to enter my day when a thrill of excitement of what the Lord has in store for me!!
I love the sweet little moments… my 2 year old cuddling close to read a book and saying, “I love you”. My 5 year old beaming with pride and glee as she makes her daddy the best birthday gift ever. My kids having an all out dance party in the living room until they can’t laugh any more. Those sweet moments that remind us that we are given the GIFT of life.
I’ve found joy in raising my grandson instead of feeling like it’s not my job because I’ve already raised my kids. I feel it’s a gift from God and an honor to help him grow up to be a man of God
It has been 2 yrs this week that I heard the words “You have cancer” and also “You have a heart aneurysm” I’m 54 years old and not ready to give up so I fought with God by my side and HE allowed me to get into the remission stage. During my horrible chemo treatments, I never felt so close to God in all my life. So, I sold my small dog grooming business of 30 yrs and obtained a position at our local hospital in the Hospice unit assisting families going through severe illness and having to accept eminent death to help spread the message that God is in control and HE will always help bring comfort, peace and joy to you. However, I struggle daily with the intense worry of “is my cancer going to return” but I’m trying to focus on others instead of me. I wish I had more peace of mind that cancer won’t rule me again.
I am thankful for the innocent sweetness of my littles. They are 4, 2, and 6 months. People comment on how busy I must be but I truly feel so honored and blessed. At these ages, they’re loving to play together and make up they’re own kind of fun. This past week has been a harder one for lack of rest and sleep but that’s why this post is so meaningful to me. God help me chose joy and seek out those shimmering moments.
I love that God helps me to give thanks for all I have. I love how God has made a marriage out of a mess.
Choosing JOY….beautiful JOY…..even in the smallest, tiniest of things. I appreciate every day with my husband, because tomorrow is never guaranteed. With his many health “issues” that no one can seem to pinpoint, I appreciate every minute & hour that God has let him stay here on this earth–knowing that my husband would be singing in the largest heavenly choir there is, when God decides to end his earthly suffering. I choose JOY and always looking ahead to that unspeakable JOY of a heavenly life with my Savior!! 🙂
Cindy, your testimony is powerful. Joy in the midst of suffering–I am certain that your choice is pointing MANY toward Christ. I am praying for you and your husband right now— asking for continued strength, peace, and courage to face what each day brings with joy. Thank you for sharing a tiny sliver of your story.
Ohh my, how I needed to hear the encouraging words from your message. I am thankful for so much. Yeasterday my husband loss his job unexpectedly and I praise the Lord that we’ve already seen his hand on us during this moment of our lives. My husband has cling to God and we have received a great deal of support in a short time. God is with us and I am thankful for his promise of a better day ahead and his love and mercy.
I’m praying for you and your husband, Aishah. May His promises hold and your faith grow even stronger as you walk together through this storm.
I love that God makes beauty from ashes! He has changed my past into a beautiful future for my family and me. I love that my kids won’t have the baggage I once had.
Alicia, Alicia….what can I say every time your picture comes up in the devotions section I know God is going to personally speak to me and he did…this hit right on the mark…I love that prayer ” help me to love the life I live” when I read that the world spun so fast but time also stood still..
This devotion was so for me thank u for sharing what happened to you because it’s happening to so many of us. God bless you, your ministry, your clan of kids and marriage…thank you so much and God bless
I love how God always uses your stories to speak truth into mine 🙂
Thank you for blessing me today with your encouragement, Kassandra. I love it when God reaches through the “page” and speaks to us. So glad He used the P31 devo to do that for you today.
I love that my husband longs to love me well.
Thank you for these encouraging words. I get caught in thr rut of thinking my life is just ordinary and mundane. After reading your blog, just now, I see that my life is extraordinary and blessed beyond measure. I love my hard working husband. I love that I am able to stay at home and care for our son each day. I love that God loves me and has never given up on me.
God bless you!
What I love about my life right now is that God’s hand in it and his provision shines through moment by moment. I am the mother of 2 children with special needs and there is no way that I could do it on my own or in my own strength. I see evidence of God’s provision and his equipping of me on a daily basis which only increases my trust in him more and more.
So true… the way God’s faithfulness builds our faith. Thanks for sharing, Angela. May our strong Savior continue to equip you day by day.
What I love about my life right now is that after years of hard work, i finally retired. I am happy right where I am and with whom i have become because of the hard work for all those years. I love the messages from you ladies everyday. I want to get to know God better and have a prayer life that my help others. God Bless
What I love about my life right now is after a surgery this past summer for 2 major breaks I am healed and back to work cleaning homes. I pray over the homes that I know need Christ.
Praising God for being your Healer, Christ. Such a gift you leave in those homes! May your prayers bear much fruit.
I love my humble life! We have little, but we have plenty! I love playing with my Charlie cat…. The smile I can put on Mark’s face with a simple hug…. The chatter of grandbabies…. The buzz of bees in my flower bed….. The sun that rises every day to brighten the Lord’s day… And oh so much more! Love this article… I was feeling very discontent with life, but with this simple reminder I remember to look for those diamonds! Blessings!
I love my husband and 3 kids. Besides knowing the Lord knows me, there is no greater blessing or good in my life.
This I needed: “I asked God to help me love the life I’ve got rather than wish for the life I think I want.”
This I will do.
I am grateful for the blessing of work outside of home and raising two young children in the fear of our Lord. Thank you for your post on your blog and at Proverbs 31. I’m thankful to know I’m not alone when experiencing the ordinary, mundane life and the feelings that go with this. I’m very thankful for the eye opener of how to capture and mind the moments of beauty, delight and sparkle that keeps us going and grateful!
I love where God has moved us! We have the best church, friends, school and I love being a SAHM… but it’s hard!!!
I love watching my 2 yr. old daughter playing quietly & attentively to herself. I love seeing her & my older 8 yr. old daughter playing together, so sweetly. When one does something silly to get a laugh from the other & they both end up laughing hysterically. I may not have much else, but I have my family, my husband & my 2 girls. And that is what I love.
Such a wonderful reminder to be thankful for the blessings God has provided.
I’ve been in a dark season the last 3 1/2 years but the Lord has sustained and provided for me so faithfully. What I love about my life right now is that as my spiritual eyes have adjusted to the darkness, I see there has always been light within me. I just had to decide to let it shine.
Selena, your testimony is powerful… spiritual eyes that have adjusted to darkness- praise Jesus! May your light keep shining.
Romans 12:1 . .. . that scripture has been on my heart and mind and just about everything I have read lately – Blog-wise or otherwise – it has popped up .. . . I am struggling with a difficult marriage and man . .. . I get discouraged often and hopeless . .. .thank you for this reminder to love the life and marriage that God ordained for me and see myself and my marriage like the “diamond” in the sand.. .. God is still working on perfecting me/us.
There are so many things I love about my life but I think the thing I love the most is the wonderful family God has blessed me with. They have been with me through mental health struggles, brain surgery, and chronic pain. I love them dearly!
I love the story and the devotional I felt tears in my eyes. I Love my family and reading and writing, when God use me to encourage someone. When I think I haven’t done anything or I’m the least of all why me he shows up and let me know that’s why, it’s for my to glory to be revealed. He is so awesome.
It’s the simple things. Taking care of our home and family, studying the Bible, praying, decorating my planner/journal/war room on a page. Its the little things that I am loving; the today I still have my family and friends. Thank you for the opportunity to win a reminder of walking in contentment that is the fruit of gratitude.
I love this reminder that managing blessings is a gift. I love my sweet family and friends and the newness and hope of each day!
I’m struggling with where life has me right now but your message really hit home. I am thankful for my family and thankful that God always loved me in spite of my failures.
What I love about my life right now is spending time with my grandchildren. I have troubles going on in my life but God has given me a beautiful family and grandchildren that bring me great joy!
As I read everyone’s comments it brought joy to my soul….I really don’t want the box but to have women I can connect with on a Spiritual positive level…..I felt much like this story….I have a daughter suffering from ADHD many people don’t see it as much but I do and it’s been hard seeing her go through this morning I felt helpless……I went through a storm in life and I lost almost everything now I’m back staying with my parents at 32…..and it gets overwhelming I feel stuck sometimes…..it hurts for my children to see my failures every morning simple like not being able to find a school shirt makes me cry and yesterday my daughter came home crying about I had to take her out of cheerleading I cried with her…..But the little five year old look up wiped my tears and said its okay mama Jesus with fix it…..and in my tears now I find joy in knowing I teach my children about the love of God even in our struggles and that the peace of God surpasses all understanding and her faith in him made me remember my faith and who I’m trusting in……and I can push and strive another I love my children they give me joy…….
Shenetra, I am praying right now for you and your precious children. It’s SO HARD to love our life when the storms hit. I’m asking Jesus to help you to see Him even in this storm, to give you strength and to show Himself faithful to you in the struggle. Thanks for your honesty here.
Senetra, God sees your struggles and rejections, but it’s part of his protection for you and your kids. A lot of times we don’t understand why we are in the place we are in, but just know God has better plans for your family! Senetra I’m praying and thanking God for your struggles, because if it were not for them, you wouldn’t have become the person you are nor the person that taught her kids about the Lord God Almighty! Father God, in the name of Jesus I come before you petitioning you to guide, protect, and bless Senetra family according to their needs and Father God give them that peace of mind and strength like the 5yr old trusting and believing in a name that will never fail Jesus! Let your Will Jesus and only your Will be done over their lives, in Jesus name Amen, Amen, Amen!!!
Recently the life that I new was taken from me in an instant. It was a normal Saturday morning. The kids were awake and I was ready to make breakfast. My husband had scheduled to work this Saturday morning because he was working on a huge project. I stayed in bed a little longer than usual. As I get out of bed, I notice the laptop on the nightstand on my husbands side. The thought of why it is there crosses my mind. I walk over and place it on my lap. For the first time, I pray. I remember this sense of peace coming over me. I ask for strength. I ask that I be given the strength to handle whatever it is I am about to see.
I open the laptop and the emails are discovered. Imagine my shock. My disbelief.
I’m losing everything I have ever known.
It’s amazing that instead of me becoming outraged like the women in the movies, I became greatful.
If this is what it took, for me to wake up and appreciate all that I have, then I am thankful.
I have since been praying for my husband, for my family and for myself.
It’s been a very short 8 months but my husband and I are working towards getting stronger.
I will not lie and say it’s perfect. I still have my moments of doubt and I still wonder why. I have been blessed in so many ways.
I am a working mom. I have 2 jobs and 3 children. And it is. It always easy. There are so many times that I have wondered why. Why is this my life. Why is it hard. Why isn’t it easy. Whh isn’t life like the fairytales I remember reading.
I have found so much peace knowing that I am exactly where I need to be.
This morning, a complacent morning, I had an insecurity. I haven’t used the iDisciple app in a while. I open it up and came across this article and it spoke to me. Reminding me that I will forever love the life that his been given to me.
Thank you for the lovely story. Everyday I look for the “diamond”.
Like all of the other “coincidences” I believe I was meant to read this today, this morning because my faith was a little shaken.
Beautiful
Oh, Cerissa, thank you for sharing your story and for showing us what it looks like to give thanks even in the dark place. I am praying for you and your family— asking Jesus to restore and rebuild what was broken and to give you eyes to see the “diamonds” in your path.
Thank you for your prayers Alicia. I have no words for the way I feel. Godly women have been placed in my path and it has helped me tremendously. I would not have been able to do this alone. I look forward to following your blog. Reading the comments of others, I just want to say God bless you all. Thanks again Alicia.
God has given me a life of discipling women in the Lifeline ministry as Night Supervisor. Sometimes the drama is high and it’s one thing after another. And sometimes we only have 2 ladies and it is peaceful. Once in a while through all the reminders to do this and that or not, all the studying and test making, the one-on-one discussions, and the myriad other things that make up this type of ministry, I come to feel tired and worn out watching so many women come and go not having come to faith in Jesus. Thank you for this post. Now and then we just need to hear someone else say they know what we’re going through because they’ve been there. Having just had our Pastor go home to be with our Lord makes this time especially difficult. I’m very grateful for your words of encouragement and my Lord Jesus Christ who is always near to me.
Pamela, the “work” you do is SO IMPORTANT. Thank you for faithfully planting the seeds of the gospel. I am praying that God will take make them grow and give you strength and perseverance.
Thank you so much. Your post made me cry as I’ve been feeling totally useless lately, just going to work, cleaning the house, caring for my 2 children (who both have brain health issues.) I’ve been feeling unworthy and like I’m not making a difference or making the world better. Thank you for refocusing my vision onto just doing what God has placed before me at this time. I would love this gift to put by my kitchen sink as a reminder that I am not alone in this earthly battle, and that God indeed loves and trust me. Thank you.
Megan, you’re right. You’re not alone. And you are not useless. In fact, you’re building the Kingdom right where you are as you care for the ones God has given you. I’m praying boldly that today Jesus will interrupt your daily grind and make His presence known to you in a sweet and special way, that He will encourage your heart and buoy your soul with renewed strength.
Thank you for this! Attitude affects everything! I love being a Grandma & pouring into their precious lives.
This message was just what I needed today. Thank you! And as for your question, what I love about my life right now is the season my family is in. We have daughters who are 9 and 12 (almost 13!) and while they keep us crazy busy, it is wonderful watching them turn into young woman. I am very thankful for them and love watching our family grow up. My husband and I are very blessed 🙂
I find joy in the every day friends, family and fur babies in my life. There are days where I want all the EXTRAS of life… But I am truly happy with a very humble life. Satan whispers in my ear regularly “that should be yours” or “wouldn’t that be fun?” and I fight him off daily! This article helped reinforce what I know and want to live…. A life of Joy in Jesus! Blessings!
I love my job! Even though there are grumpy people (at least 1 every day!); and not easy to deal with clients, I still love what I do. And I love my husband and children and grandchildren, because they can put a smile on my face almost anytime! Great message today!
Battling Scleroderma isn’t easy. My once active life has become rather mundane. I guess it’s feeling guilty for being ill. Many are quick to provide “cures” to my incurable disease. It’s easy to become discouraged. I am learning to be happy where I am. While I am no longer able to work as a Registered Nurse, I have found delight in more time spent with family. Thank you for reminding me that God can use me even in this situation.
Elizabeth, I’m sorry for your battle. I am praying against discouragement and asking Jesus to give you eyes to see Him right where you are.
Elizabeth, my sweet sister in Christ. I understand and empathize with you in your journey. I have fibromyalgia and understand going from being a vibrant and active mom to barely making it to the recliner on good days. I share that with you to say that we serve a healing God, one who desires for us to healed and whole. I can now say that I believe this with ALL that I am. I will pray for you and your healing.
Alicia, thank you for your encouraging words in this devotional. I am on a journey to learn how to be content in what God has given me and where he has placed me. Content or contentment is my word for 2017. I am excited to see where it leads me and how close it will bring me to God.
I love our crazy military life. Though all the moves and deployments can get me down and exhaust me, they also allow our family to have some amazing adventures, live in some beautiful places and see new and exciting things. What a blessing our rock is, if we ask God to help us see it as a diamond.
I remember from my childhood and especially as a teenager that no matter what kind of a day I was having my grandpa would say ” it is a great life”which goes along with Psalm 16:11.Joy is one of my very favorite words ( Jesus, others, yourself ) My husband and I are finally grand parents of a beautiful and happy grandson who is now 1 year old. This is a favorite part of of our journey. Another favorite part is living in the Hill Country in Texas in a retirement community where our life is simpler – beautiful scenery, less traffic which I really like, lots of volunteer jobs, and ways to let others know Jesus through one’s attitude and the life path one has chosen to be directed by Jesus.
I love your grandpa’s words! What a gift to you as a young girl. Thanks for sharing:)
I love that He has placed Godly women in my path at a time I was struggling to find joy following PPD, which affected my marriage each day. These ladies have come alongside me and lifted me up and supported me, always reminding me of His love. I’m also grateful for a husband devoted to me and our marriage who hasn’t given up. Great is thy faithfulness!
Rejoicing with you in the lavish gift of faithful friends:)
I love the flexibility of working from home and I love being within driving distance of my parents.
Wow. God is so good. I really needed to hear this today. I was not sure if there was much I loved about my life until I read your devotional and I too got anlump in my throat. I am grateful that I have my God is ALWAYS is by my side loving me unconditionally.
I love the evenings when my family is all home together. With kids ranging from 21 to 6, it is my joy that they love it as much as my husband and I do.
Though challenging at times, I love that I can be home with my children.
Thank you for the devotion about contentment.
Right now my life is blessed with family and friends. God is pouring out His promises. Even in doubt and fear, His love is ever so present. Life can be mundane at times but equally marvelous. Love your words, Alicia. Thank you.
What I love about my life right now is the provisions I see God make for me. An example is this message. I am an empty nester that has just completed a year long journey of treatment for breast cancer. My youngest just started college. I miss both of my children so much. My days are filled with long hours of work that during the last few years had lost its purpose. I feel like I am searching, but I don’t know what for or why. I long to have a deep abiding joy that will carry me through these days as I deal with brain fog, loss of energy around my work that helps provide for my family. The days are long. But today God gave me this prayer her gave you. His gift today is teach me to pray to love the life I have. I know this is God speaking into my life.
Kathy, may Jesus continue to heal you completely and give you fresh passion for this new present reality. Thanks for sharing a piece of your story with us today.
What I love most is watching us move into a new stage of life with adult children and how God is transforming both their lives and ours into a new beautiful with new challenges and joys.
I love being home to care for my family! I didn’t think my life would look like this, but I’m learning to love it, just as it is!
I love getting up early and spending time reading a Devotional, praying, writing in my journal, opening God’s Word. I guess having a quiet time is what I’m trying to say. It gets me out of bed and gives me something to look forward to.
I love my life right now because I see how God is constantly molding me and shaping me to be the mom that my kids needs me to be. I also see prayers He has answered of mine that I pray daily over my children. I love this family He has blessed me with and I love seeing the gifts He has given them so that they can do good works for His kingdom.
I love spending time with my family. All too soon they are almost grown, and almost out the door.
I love it all! My God, my family, my career as a 2nd grade teacher, that I’ll be 40 this year! Thank you Lord for this life 💕
Thank you so much for this today, my parents are 91 and 89, my mom with dementia, as I go through each and every day helping them, wondering why they have to suffer so…this reminds me of the gift that I keep getting of them still being here for me as I will turn 50 in a few months.
I’ve been struggling with this a lot in the past year of my life. But it has caused me to press into Jesus more so even the hardest things in our lives serve a purpose. And I suspect that in years to come I will see that these difficult times will have served a greater purpose. Lord help me love the life I have and not to long for something else. Thank-you for this word.
Praying for you right now Mandi–” Jesus, continue to reveal yourself to Mandi. Give her your strength for this hard road. And allow her to flourish in the wilderness until you lead her out. Thank you for never leaving her side.”
Right now I am embracing this season of singleness that I am in. I have plenty of uninterrupted time to spend getting to know the LORD and walking with HIM everyday. I also have the opportunity to serve others more readily. If I should get married, there would be more constraints on my time, so I will enjoy today and enjoy tomorrow when it comes.
Wow, the timing of this is incredible. I fight the feeling of never being satisfied. I am always looking for what’s next! Is that what will bring me joy? My happiness and contentment is always around the corner. Not any more! TODAY I will starting loving the life I have; finding passion in the present!! Thank you, thank you for helping me find my way.
I can still hold my little girl when she has nightmares. These are tiring days with littles, but I try to be thankful because I know they will go by quickly.
What I love about my life right now is everything. My life may not look like much to some, but I recognize that I an blessed beyond measure. It is full of love,opportunity,challenges and the awesome guidance,forgiveness,and grace of my Heavenly Father. My life is great, I love it so much just because He’s in it. It’s not easy everyday, and some days are down right painful, but at any moment I have the ability, the privilege, the permission to go to Him with my pain, my struggle and my joy. It’s the best way to live. Even in the midst of a struggling marriage, teenage angst, a chaotic job, aging and ailing family, political unrest, and a general anxiety about the future- I have Him, and He’s got me. Knowing that, resting in that, believing that with my heart, soul and mind makes me just love my life. Thank you for your encouragement and reminding us to be content.
This was a refreshing reminder this morning of the continuos choice that I need to make everyday about finding joy in my “everyday”. Thank you for that. What I love about my life is my freedom to be able to stay at home with my 3 babies. I love that I get to do what fulfills me most in this life, and that’s raising our 3 “little disciples”. I have so many days and moments of no joy, and will often get in a pity-party mood, but the the Lord reminds me that my ministry is here at home. Thank you for a great devotion this morning.
What I love most about my life right now is the privilege I have of watching my son become a teenager and seeing the baby faced kid begin to look more and more like his father. I pray that I am beginning to act more and more like my Heavenly Father.
What a dose of ncpuragent reading this post ha been. I too stay home with our five children, two of which are school aged and the others are littles at home all day. My husband works very long hours most of the time so I’m here on th homefront by myself for the most part. While I love every bit of th blessing it is to be able to stay home and not miss one little thing they do, it sure does get mundane, underwhelming unadventurous, and just plain boring sometimes. The laundry for this many people is never complete and everyone always needs another bite to eat so I’m always fixing someone food for their hungry little bodies. Like you I had become less impressed with my life and was seeking the encouragement of dear friends recently and just like you said in this article and over at proverbs 31, the most adventurous and brave one is me, right here in ththe middle of mundane laundry, that’s what my friends told me! After surrendering my heart to this mundane that Jesus has me in right now I can truly say I feel more content. When I give him the first moments of my day I find a lot more joy in the mundane, the laundry, the little hands that need wiping and the messes that need cleaning up. I love this life, every stinky diaper and every left behind pile of shoes I clean up, I love it. Thank you for encouraging us!!
I love it when God whispers a message through many people in different ways. We call that a “holy echo” at my house. So, Heather, may you be encouraged as God reminds you to embrace the adventure He’s placed right under your feet. Blessings
I’m struggling as a working mom who desperately wants to be at home. I love every second I get to spend with my sweet babies (even the diapers, the spills and the tantrums that are beginning to rise up from my almost two-year-old). After years of baby loss and infertility, it’s all a joy, even the frustrating moments.
{We met at She Speaks two summers ago and after the session you presented you prayed with me about this very struggle. In your prayer you asked God to help me love them (my students) like Jesus loves them. It’s been a very difficult year. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the P31 devotional led me over to your blog this morning to remind me of our conversation and your prayer.}
Oh, Hope, I’m so sorry for your tough year. I DO remember our prayer in the hallway at She Speaks two summers ago. I am so glad God led you here today so I could be reminded to continue to pray for you still. He is faithful– may your eyes be opened to see His “diamonds” at school and at home.
To love the life you live sounds so storybook, but you can find joy in the mundane. When I work for the Lord rather than people, I find I can do more and be cheerful while doing so; even if that means someone put a dish in the sink as soon as I started the dishwasher. Today, I will choose to embrace the little moments with my 5 & 7 year olds. It’s amazing what 5 minutes of my time does for each of us.
What I love most about my life right now, is sharing it with my teenage daughters. We have many, many struggles, but at the end of the day, the love shines through. I am a single parent, so it’s been rough, but I think I have taught them the important things in life. And I pray they always remember “this”!
What I love most about my life right now, is the new beginning that God is giving me. I have depression (for more than half of my life). It isn’t until this past year that I have a better understanding. I am under the care of a psychiatrist and therapist which has helped tremendously in stabilizing my depression. But what I am most thankful for, are God’s promises found in His Word and that He will not leave me or forsake me as I start this journey of knowing Him. He isn’t angry at me for my past of following my own plans vs. following Him. Thinking “if only” then my life would be better, I’d be happier, more content with my life. I thought it all depended on what I did but on the contrary, I felt an emptiness, my depression. The good news is that it isn’t too late. He hasn’t left. It was I. And so that is what I love most about my life right now, I have the opportunity to love the life I am blessed with and He is here to help me.
I love it Leah be blessed on your new journey
Your not alone on this journey Leah. God is always with you and I am sure you know this. I too suffer from anxiety/depression/fear. I am back on medication but have yet to receive counseling. This is my goal for this year. Your story brings me hope because I have been told these emotions could be the unfulfilled goals in life. God does have a plan and purpose for us all so we must hang in there. I am so glad you are not giving up. What I live most of my life now is being able to make time for God when in the past I didnt. I am a stay at home mom and did feel a sense of being useless in this life. I like how comments are of being at home is their ministry which is so true for the younger generation now a days. Take care, God loves you and so do I. Have a blessed day!
Leah, I’m praying for you as you seek to know Jesus more and discover He’s utterly dependable and incredibly delightful. May He be your strength and joy as you follow Him. And may you walk bravely with Him on this new journey.