Friday, June 26, 2009

Simplify

It's been awhile since I've given you a nugget to ponder....

I was standing at the kitchen sink, looking at the trees blowing gently and pondering the busyness of life. It's summer time and by darn it, it's supposed to be slower. At least that's what I hear. We started off summer with a bang, a 17 day road trip. It was very fun, don't get me wrong, but tiring too. So many places to go. So many people to see. We all sighed when we came home....ahhhh. Our own bed. By the next morning, we were unpacked and back into the routine of life. The kids missed their friends so they planned play dates and social outings. Hmm.. Yep, I put on my taxi driver hat and I drove. and I drove. And I drove some more. Now, all these activities were good and I was happy they had friends to come home to but too much of a good thing becomes bad. After four days of driving, I pulled the emergency break. ERRRRRTT! It was time to stay home and well, be home. Simplify.

God made Simplify a theme for my life when I had my first three little ones. I remember trying to be all things to all people, church, girlfriends, family. No time at home. When I was home I was planning what was next. What ensued was chaos. My kids needed constant busyness to feel satisfied and I had a messy house with little energy to put forth. I was too busy doing other, more meaningful good things. Uh, huh. God took us to a new place.. literally a new place, a couple hundred miles away from all I knew and what began was my journey to simplicity. I read, I cried, I loved it! My home became my castle where life happen. We invested more in the kids and our own marriage. I learned what it meant to not live in chaos and learned how to take on the responsibility of making our home a place of peace; ie CLEAN. Okay, sometimes just tidy. I really started to understand the concept of too much of a good thing isn't good.

Since then I have had moments of relapse, especially during the teen years. But I pull the break once again and we all stay home. I ache when I see moms trying to accomplish it all and think they can. Something always gives. So as God reminded me again of this place in my life that He desires for me to be, I challenge you to think , ponder, and pray about the place He wants you to be too. It's time to be honest with yourself. Where your treasure is there your heart is also.

Reality Check:
So, where's your heart today? Out in the truck raring to go to the next place or at home creating a place of rest and solitude for your family.

The choice is yours.

Thanks for listening,
Tuna Jones

3 comments:

Reg said...

Yup..."No" is a good word and I learned to use it when J & J were little too. Now that I technically have more time on my hands I can say "Yes" to more things, but I still try to think about whether it's all good...or not. Thanks for the reminder, Sis!!!

Krissy said...

Yes, I really needed to hear that today. God is faithful to supply the wisdom my heart yearns for and he gave it through you, my dear friend. Thanks.

Maria said...

Amen, sister!