How can we simplify our complicated lives in a world that tries to keep us distracted? As we prepare our tables and open our hearts for another holiday season of Thanksgiving and Christmas, I continue to search for the answer.
As I listen to my family already preparing for the holidays–shopping, cleaning every speck of their houses for the arrival of company, taking family photos for this year’s Christmas card display, making candy, and on an on. In a sea of overload massive confusion, I want to shout…STOP! What about playoffs for our local football teams and being a part of that? What about senior pictures and finding the right clothes, photographer, and capturing those moments to display on our “senior wall” in our study? Oh, and let’s not forget, scheduling college visits, preparing the photo boards for graduation, and trying to keep up with cooking and work! It feels like a never ending massive attack of my time, energy, and life! Or, I can flip the coin on the other side and began to look at it from another point of view—the point of view that keeps me grounded…which is gratitude. I also try to remind myself of the other part of the coin that I carry in my pocket everyday from The Road…Philippians 4:13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Gratitude opens up my eyes to simplify my table, and look at this as a season of my life. A season of being a mom, a season of struggling with still trying to balance kids, husband, home, work and helping others. A season like no other season in my life that I want to look back on with a smile and of heartfelt gratitude. Where I can simplify the moments, and capture them for my family to be locked away in our hearts forever. A place where there is peace, hope, joy, and forgiveness. A place where tomorrow doesn’t matter, and the past is a distant memory not to dwell on. A place where my mistakes have been forgotten and forgiven, and a place where I can come home to where our lives are filled with love. Simplify your life…try not to let the outside world distract and overwhelm you. Try to focus on those things in your life that are the most important, and follow it. Stay on the yellow brick road that leads you safely home.
Perhaps that may be part of the answer…to live one day at a time, and focus on those moments that matter while shutting the door to the complicated world outside. To be still, humble, and quiet where we can all be lead to our peaceful purposes.
Psalm 23 – The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside still waters. He restoreth my soul.