Gratitude Day 869

2 Corinthians 12:9 – But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefor most gladly I will boast in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

On Monday afternoon, Hubby Rick and I left this scene. We literally left “claw marks in the sand,” as a friend asked.

Tuesday morning, the temperature on our car at the Dane County airport registered -8 as we dug our car out from the bank of snow that surrounded it.

An hour later, we walked into our Wisconsin home. Yes, the sun was shining. It was now -5. I walked over to the sliding glass doors that go out onto our deck. And this is what I found.

About 20 inches of snow. Yes, it was pretty. Yes, the sun glistened off the tiny flakes. Yet, my feet wanted to be in sandals and dug into the sand.

Honestly? The transition back to “real life in Wisconsin” has felt more challenging after our glorious Sabbath. I’m not as motivated right now. I’m finding every excuse to avoid and not work on the things that I think ARE important or projects that I feel committed to.

Yes, I have had some commitments this week. I fulfilled them. But I’d rather play hooky, crawl under a blanket on the couch and watch a movie.

Anyone else feel this way?

Maybe it’s the cold weather. Maybe it the time change. Maybe it’s, well, just what I’m feeling right now.

It’s a different feeling for a person who has spent most all of her life doing, doing, and doing. To just want to be is not my normal starting point. But I think it IS OK.

So, how should I react when I’m feeling a bit out of sorts right now? One thing I’m trying to do is embrace this time. What am I trying to embrace in this slightly different season of life right now?

• Be OK with it. There will be a day when I’ll be ready to get back at all the things. In the meantime, let this season be.
• Ask myself, “How do you feel about this time right now?” I think so many people spend so much of their lives never asking the questions behind their feelings. We try to push them away, hide them, not honor them. This time, I’m trying to be more honest with myself and say, “How ARE you feeling? What thoughts ARE you having right now?” And to me, this IS growth within myself.
• Know that God loves me and will honor me through this season. Most often, I think we are way more expectant and critical of ourselves than God is. I know God will love me through this time. May I allow myself to do the same.
• Discover that there IS joy and beauty in just letting things unfold. Be OK with it.
• Let myself be present with others who I am with. Each day this week, I had a meaningful conversation with someone. Things were shared and explored. I listened and also shared. Would have these conversations happened had I only been focused on what I needed to do rather than slowing down and honoring the other person simply with my presence? I’m not sure. Maybe this is an important lesson for me: simply BE. Be with God. Be with myself, Be with others. And this is enough.

Sometimes, I share a little bit of inspiration that I’ve recently discovered. Here are a few of those things that I’ve been enjoying of late.

This song. Many of you will find the words very familiar. It’s simply just a little different version of the song you might know so well.

This book. I just finished listening to it as an audio book. It’s set during World War II and I really loved it. It has a couple surprise twists that keep the story moving.

These colors. One of my favorite experiences while on vacation was seeing all the trees, shrubs, bushes and flowers. They were GREEN. Blooming. Their scents filled the air and at times, their beauty took my breath away. After a very brown December, the eyes and nose feasted on this endless bouquet of beauty.

This saying. Maybe it captures all that I’m trying to figure out this week.

If you are in a season when things don’t feel as good as you’d like, or you’re just searching or not sure what lies ahead, please let yourself just be OK with this. God is with you. God will be in front, beside and behind you every step of the way. May this be enough.  

You are enough, my amazing friend. I pray you hang onto this today.

Blessings –

Dianne

Holy God – On the days that I don’t feel I’ve done enough, or am enough, or look at someone else and think, “Why can’t I be more like them,” slow me down. Help me remember that in You, I am always enough. Amen.

If you have enjoyed this blog, please pass it along to someone else who will also enjoy it.

Simple Is Better – You Are ENOUGH

Gratitude Day 869

2 Corinthians 12:9 – But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefor most gladly I will boast in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

On Monday afternoon, Hubby Rick and I left this scene. We literally left “claw marks in the sand,” as a friend asked.

Tuesday morning, the temperature on our car at the Dane County airport registered -8 as we dug our car out from the bank of snow that surrounded it.

An hour later, we walked into our Wisconsin home. Yes, the sun was shining. It was now -5. I walked over to the sliding glass doors that go out onto our deck. And this is what I found.

About 20 inches of snow. Yes, it was pretty. Yes, the sun glistened off the tiny flakes. Yet, my feet wanted to be in sandals and dug into the sand.

Honestly? The transition back to “real life in Wisconsin” has felt more challenging after our glorious Sabbath. I’m not as motivated right now. I’m finding every excuse to avoid and not work on the things that I think ARE important or projects that I feel committed to.

Yes, I have had some commitments this week. I fulfilled them. But I’d rather play hooky, crawl under a blanket on the couch and watch a movie.

Anyone else feel this way?

Maybe it’s the cold weather. Maybe it the time change. Maybe it’s, well, just what I’m feeling right now.

It’s a different feeling for a person who has spent most all of her life doing, doing, and doing. To just want to be is not my normal starting point. But I think it IS OK.

So, how should I react when I’m feeling a bit out of sorts right now? One thing I’m trying to do is embrace this time. What am I trying to embrace in this slightly different season of life right now?

• Be OK with it. There will be a day when I’ll be ready to get back at all the things. In the meantime, let this season be.
• Ask myself, “How do you feel about this time right now?” I think so many people spend so much of their lives never asking the questions behind their feelings. We try to push them away, hide them, not honor them. This time, I’m trying to be more honest with myself and say, “How ARE you feeling? What thoughts ARE you having right now?” And to me, this IS growth within myself.
• Know that God loves me and will honor me through this season. Most often, I think we are way more expectant and critical of ourselves than God is. I know God will love me through this time. May I allow myself to do the same.
• Discover that there IS joy and beauty in just letting things unfold. Be OK with it.
• Let myself be present with others who I am with. Each day this week, I had a meaningful conversation with someone. Things were shared and explored. I listened and also shared. Would have these conversations happened had I only been focused on what I needed to do rather than slowing down and honoring the other person simply with my presence? I’m not sure. Maybe this is an important lesson for me: simply BE. Be with God. Be with myself, Be with others. And this is enough.

Sometimes, I share a little bit of inspiration that I’ve recently discovered. Here are a few of those things that I’ve been enjoying of late.

This song. Many of you will find the words very familiar. It’s simply just a little different version of the song you might know so well.

This book. I just finished listening to it as an audio book. It’s set during World War II and I really loved it. It has a couple surprise twists that keep the story moving.

These colors. One of my favorite experiences while on vacation was seeing all the trees, shrubs, bushes and flowers. They were GREEN. Blooming. Their scents filled the air and at times, their beauty took my breath away. After a very brown December, the eyes and nose feasted on this endless bouquet of beauty.

This saying. Maybe it captures all that I’m trying to figure out this week.

If you are in a season when things don’t feel as good as you’d like, or you’re just searching or not sure what lies ahead, please let yourself just be OK with this. God is with you. God will be in front, beside and behind you every step of the way. May this be enough.  

You are enough, my amazing friend. I pray you hang onto this today.

Blessings –

Dianne

Holy God – On the days that I don’t feel I’ve done enough, or am enough, or look at someone else and think, “Why can’t I be more like them,” slow me down. Help me remember that in You, I am always enough. Amen.

If you have enjoyed this blog, please pass it along to someone else who will also enjoy it.