So often these days, I remind myself that something I am going through is just a season. That trials or suffering in my life won’t last forever. I’ve had to remember that putting a dream or desire or plan of mine on hold for a while doesn’t mean I’ll never get to do it.
I think there’s a kind of peace in realizing that we are always experiencing little seasons in our lives.
God knew what He was doing by creating the seasons. What a striking reminder for our spiritual lives that we are always growing and changing, that “this too shall pass,” and that–as children of God–our trials and suffering will never last forever.
Our wise and merciful Lord knows we won’t grow if we are never challenged.
I am so blessed in a thousand ways. Many people I know deal and have dealt with much, much more suffering than I may ever be given. Only God knows His reasons for that. I am expanding my ideas about suffering these days, though. I wonder if the suffering God permits His children can sometimes take the form of having to accept that, for a time, you or something in your life is simply less than you wish it was. Some in your mothering. Or in a friendship. In your marriage. In how you manage your home. In how you feed your family. In your professional life. In your blogging. 🙂
I’m going through another season of change and busy-ness in my life right now. I wanted to share a few simple things that have helped me lately.
First, I’ve been making a conscious effort to be grateful. For example, I realized recently that my family has been incredibly healthy for many months now. No constant colds. No illness of any kind this spring. I am so thankful for God’s mercy in that blessing!
I have also been making a conscious effort to be more disciplined in how I manage my time. I’m NOT perfect about this and have rather epic fails on something pretty much every day! But I’ve made a few great strides with things like getting up on time, meal planning, cleaning the house, laundry, going to daily mass a couple of times a week, planning activities for the kids, going to confession, going on Mommy’s Night Out each week (or at least every other week), and even getting back to a little spiritual reading and prayer each day.
(In all seriousness, please now re-read the “daily epic fails” portion of the above paragraph.:)
Finally, I have been trying to remember to be more intentional about my time. Whatever I’m doing, I try to turn off the Mommy the Multi-Tasker! part of my brain and focus on one thing at a time.
When I’m bathing the kids, I’m bathing the kids. Not yelling across the hallway to Michael in the next room asking if he emailed that client about the estimate question they sent an hour ago. I’m making them smile and giggle just a few more times before the day is done. Tickling their feet. Kissing that soft little spot on their neck under their ear.
And when I’m folding clothes, I’m folding clothes. Maybe even folding them neatly and smoothing out the wrinkles of the t-shirt sleeves. Maybe even saying a prayer for the person whose boxers or little polo shirt or bib I’m folding.:)
And when I’m talking to my husband while he eats dinner at 9 o’clock at night after a long day of work, I ask him about himself. At some point, I let him know that I want to talk to him about him. How is that sore shoulder feeling? How is that action item at work going? How can I help you right now?
So that’s where I am. Er…where I’ve been. 🙂
Falling off the face of the earth was a little stressful this past month. But I’m back. ish.
If you made it through my long post today–and through my long absence these past few weeks–God bless you! I’m so thankful for my faithful readers and for this part of my life! Peace and Easter joy be with you. 🙂
Hey girl, haven't seen you (online or in person) in ages! I hope you're ok… we should hang out soon!