Whew, we’ve been busy lately. And not just busy doing, I’ve had a hard time turning my poor, running-wild, mind off lately too.
My whole crew was out of bed at 4:30 am on Wed helping me with a work event that’s been in the planning for a couple months now and I can’t even begin to tell you what it was like to have them helping me so willingly. (Ok, there was a little bribery involving pop tarts and chocolate milk, but not much!)
Did you know that October 5th was International Walk to School Day?!
I can’t begin to tell you how it feels to share in something like this with your family and co-workers (who are really friends). It took that “just-one-more-work-thing” to a whole new level of serving our community.
Seeing my munchins out there smiling and passing out water bottles and marching at the end of the line to the school door…knowing that they didn’t have to be there, weren’t getting paid to be there, had been up since 4:30 am to be there, and it wasn’t even their school!
Seeing my Mr. Fix-It out there handing out tee-shirts and making sure that everyone got their pedometer and that no one missed registering for the bike raffle…
Seeing our volunteer helpers, none of whom had children at either of those schools, passing out an endless stream of goodies to encourage the kids to participate, to get excited, to be proud of themselves for coming…
So much goodness has come together for me this week, I just feel overwhelmed (and exhausted) to think about it. I listened, a little numbly, to our Pastor last night in prayer meeting and realized that so often we do what the Bible tells us, but the actions of our hands do not reflect faith in our heart. Our actions speak of belief, but our hearts doubt. Silently.
This has been me for many weeks now. Spending precious mental and emotional energy worrying, worrying, worrying…planning, and re-planning and contemplating endless new strategies if Plan A and Plan B and Plan C don’t work out…And not just in my work, but at home with our farm, with our kids education…you name it.
I think it’s a very active, high-level, form of indecision and non-commitment. Always planning on my plans not working and having to change my plans…the oxymoron of “planning for flexibility.” It’s the complete opposite of one of my favorite expressions, “Make your choice and then make it the right choice.”
And let me just tell you, it’s not working for me. It’s causing hives and headaches and all kind of frustrations in our home life.
I came across this verse recently…“The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.” (Proverbs 21:5)
It’s given me a lot to think about. Lately my thoughts have definitely been hasty–and ok, that’s probably even an understatement. And it’s definitely left me feeling unfulfilled and certainly wanting. Wanting some peace. Wanting some rest. Wanting some joy.
But I am so thankful for God’s mercy lately. He could have come in here with some devastating trouble to snap me back to attention, some tragedy or some horrible complication. But He hasn’t. He’s sent me gentle reminder, after gentle reminder, after gentle reminder, of His faithfulness and love. A rainbow…a joyful baby shower to attend…a heart-soothing conversation with a good friend…a wildly successful conclusion to an important project…the beginning of pumpkin spice latte season…
“He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.” (Isaiah 40:11, emphasis added)
How are you today?
