Before I get back to blogging (I have way too many posts in my “All Posts” file) I should fill you in on why I’ve been so silent and what’s been going on in my house these days.  Not that my life is so very interesting, but I think it helps to know a person a little bit before you read their stuff.

My “stuff,” my lessons learned, are nothing new under this bright sun of ours, like Solomon said so many years ago.  But the God who created me has given me a gift of words, a bit of wisdom and intuition that I am going to use for all His glory for as long as I am able.

Busy, Busy – ALL the Time!   (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing)

So here’s the deal – my entire life, I heard my mother say, “When life slows down, I’ll…..”  Have you ever said that?  “When life slows down….”  I’ve been saying it a lot lately.  And I’m finally asking myself if that is really ever going to happen.  Maybe it will when my body is unable to coordinate the making of a meal, or the driving a car to see my grandkids, or when my mind is gone like my Mom’s is now.  But before that day?  Will life ever really slow down?   Or should it?

We need to pray for God to show us just how busy He wants us to be.  I hope to be busy, like Mary, about the things that matter most to Him:  family, friends, lost souls, community.  Drawing them to the only One who can heal their hurts, give them wisdom, and comfort their weary souls.  And how we go about that, my friend, will look different for each one of us.  And we’ll each mess up often.  Choosing the temporal or the fun instead of the hard.  But for the goal…

Take a moment and listen to my favorite hymn these days.  It reflects this sentiment perfectly!  (If you’re getting this via email, you’ll have to hop on over to my blog to view it.  It’s worth it!)

Choices We Must Make To Know How Busy To Be

• We live in a lost, dying, and corrupt world.  This fact alone should keep us very busy!  So busy that our days will be spent caring – and talking – and visiting – and teaching – and loving – loving – loving.
• We might will have to limit some things like entertainment or leisure – at least be sure that they’re not taking us away from time with others or time with God. (Yes, I’m feeling an elbow in my rib.)
• Creating space to rest is of utmost importance, especially when we are called to service.  We need time to think, to ponder the ways of God and our incredible need for Him.  Space to rest and listen to His still small voice, to hear the needs of others, to think about what’s best to do tomorrow.

Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.  Let all that you do be done in love.  1 Corinthians 16:13-14

My Crazy-Busy Life

My life has been filled, absolutely filled to the brim, with loving and blessing and caring and serving this last year.  To the point that some goals my husband and I have had, or thought were important, have been put on the back burner.  I share about them in these posts:  Life Changes – Are You Ready To Step Out of the Boat? and Learning To Be Salt and Light

Here’s a sampling of my last nine months:

• 3 grandbabies born in the last six months (helped at two births and follow up care for mom and/or children)
• Traveled back and forth two states away, to help another daughter’s family move closer to us!  (yay, at least one is closer now!)
• Moved another daughter to Colorado (miss her lots!)
• Helped clean and pack the truck when our daughter’s family moved away – :o(
• Took a very fun, family ski trip and visited our daughter in CO – (much needed!)
• Learned of our 32 yo daughter’s possible brain tumor (now diagnosed as AVM, which is treatable; ever so grateful that she was on the good side of the 50% chance of death or paralysis from this event!)
• Discussed and counseled a daughter during a “pre-courtship”
• Daily helping the five children still in our home, finish schoolwork and learn or better their skills, and discover their talents for future work (woodworking, jewelry making, fine sewing, craft shows, food trailer sales/events, etc.)
• Planted our garden plus put 60 lbs. of fresh fish (from bow-fishing in our backyard river) into our freezer.  Thanks, guys!
• Gained three (soon to be five four) Alpacas that my daughter wants to raise for wool and breeding
• Dealt with 2 pet deaths in the last few weeks.  We had to put down our sweet, 3 yo family dog, plus my daughter’s momma alpaca (the vets have no clue as to what happened, but we gave her a fighting chance via syringe feeding for over a week).  Now we bottle feed her baby every three hours.  We’re tired!
• Plus all the holidays and birthdays that were packed into those months, complete with guests and food and gift giving

I’m sure I’ve forgotten many other events or trips not covered here, but you get the picture!  I get the picture!  Yikes, life is certainly busy.  But which one would I not do?  Which person would I say, “No, you’re not important enough to take the time for?”  I am finally learning (getting into my thick skull) it’s just not going to slow down.  

~ Life, well lived, will be busy. ~

The Take Away:   We are born to serve – and to die in that service.

This isn’t a depressing reality, but a life-giving one.  One that breathes Christ to those around us.  Christ, the ultimate One who died to give us life.  And I’m finding that I can actually smile in the dying!

Won’t you join with me in relishing the busyness along this path of life!

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.  For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.  For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”    Matthew 16:24-26