Today I share my thoughts over at the beautiful blog: Defining Hope. I am honored to be a part of Hope’s inspirational and lovely home for a day. I talk about something I am convicted of changing in my life. I call them “Empty Spaces”. All those moments I am doing mindless tasks and my thoughts wander through grocery lists and meal plans, deadlines and schedules. Just think of all those minutes wasted on repetitive mind chatter. I want to fill those empty spaces with prayer. I don’t give things up for Lent. I probably should sacrifice something. I’d like to think I am sacrificing my empty spaces for Him. Read on…Here.
Wow – so profound! Empty Spaces . . . just what I needed to read today! Thanks so much. It seems as though our minds are still in sync sister!!! I miss you!!
~Cheryl
OMYGOSH!!!!! I am SO EXCITED to see your beautiful name!! Miss you so much…but I know we will ALWAYS be in sync!! 🙂 Means the WORLD to me to see you HERE. XOXO…
I am very busy but I try to read your blog when I can – You are an AMAZING writer and I hope everyone out there knows what an AMAZING person you are as well. I love you so much and I miss the kids! Can’t believe how much they have grown!! And I swear – I didn’t teach your beautiful little girl that word years ago (HAHA – do you remember that?). So cool to feel connected to you and your life through this!! HUGS!!!!!
I love you. I love you. I love you. 🙂 Always.
Great idea! My heart aches for those that lose so much joy in their days by spinning their mental to do lists….reminds me of the anxious bride, so worried about how smooth the day will go that she loses herself from the whole occasion. I always pray that brides will just be in the brief moment with their partner and loved ones and let go of the rest.
Wouldn’t it be a great to live that way in daily life. Yes we must get things done so that things will run ‘smooth’….but we must prioritize not losing ourselves and mental energy in the little sometimes mundane or trivial objectives. The longer I live, I’m learning that stress and worry are choices, not necessities in our daily lives.
Dear sister, I hope you can enjoy the new perspective of peace and prayer during those inevitable store lines, traffic jams, waiting situations….they are a chance to breathe, pray, just BE….enjoy that gift! One consequence of truly doing that is you won’t get as much done. It’s a fact, when you simplify and stop the constant ‘to do’ in your mind and day, you will accomplish less. So then what?
So then nothing…that’s just it….so then nothing. You’ll likely add days to your life with the stress level down. It’s a choice, live more simply with more prayer, reflection, relaxation in and with your most intimate relationships and with your Creator? Or…get more packed into each day and crossed off the list,…If blessed to live a long life with our mental faculties, which choice do you think would bring us more joy and gratification as we reflect?
I see this taking affect in my life as I realize now when I throw the kids a poptart for a meal occasionally or go to bed with the house all in disarray because I’m just so ready for sleep, or people come over and the house is in that same disarray…..these things no longer cause stress or worry, why? Because I’ve learned to let these things go so the joy is not stolen from my day. No one will care how clean or perfect my house was, no one will be worse off eating a poptart for a meal here and there, no one will care about how organized things were in my daily grind, the kids have taught me over and over that they don’t care, and its finally sinking into my thick skull that nobody does care about those things because they are not what matters! Easy to SAY intellectually, much harder to convince your spirit to actually let go of daily stress….work when work is needed, but be able to let it go too. Relationships, relationships, relationships….with God, with ourselves, with those closest to us….ALL that truly matters. On that note, I’m going to have a snuggle with my kids and then have dinner with a dear friend…house a mess, yes! I put the messy house and clothes sitting in the washer on my TO DO list today! 🙂
LOVE THIS SO MUCH sister!!!! Well look at YOU all in your ZEN and lovin’ it!!! Now THAT’S what I’m talkin’ about!!!!! Loved every. Single. Word. of this comment! This is one of the hardest challenges I will face and have always struggled with…as you know. Thanks for the pep talk here- hope all my readers get a chance to read it and be blessed! 🙂
Oooh, heading over there right now!
Thanks so much for stopping by here first sweet friend!!! YOU ROCK!!! (btw- dying to know who was who in those pictures… OMG!)
Sounds like a good one. Heading on over…
Thanks so much for stopping by here first, Jennifer!!! Hope you like the post! I appreciate you. 🙂
Sounds like exactly what I need today and every day. I’m off to read your inspiring words …
Aw thanks Mary!! 🙂 I appreciate you.
Hey Chris! Headed over now!
Thanks for stopping by here first Michell!! Hope you enjoy the piece… 🙂