Good afternoon friends! Today on the blog I am excited to have my dear friend Stacy Smith-Fulia. Stacy and I were roommates in college and have stayed in touch over the years thanks to Facebook, long distance phone calls, and road trips. When I think of Stacy, I think of hot cups of coffee, thoughtful conversations, and taebo in the dorm lounge.
This past fall Stacy jumped into #write31days by posting and writing every day on Instagram. Her beautiful pictures and posts looked something like this:
Stacy’s reflections on life and ability to celebrate the little moments she caught on her camera led me to ask her to write for us here. She wrote this post and I am finally getting it up. Please sit back and enjoy her words for you, dear mamas. May they wash over you with grace and peace.
I am a mama, and I am guessing if you found your way here, you might be one too.
I have just had a month off of being the lead parent, the stay at home mom, because my husband, a teacher, has been off since mid-December. Oh, you guys. I started breathing deeper, I did not have crazy unattainable to do lists and I rejoiced even at feeling bored at times. We need a change in pace, a break in routine and a time to put down our “supermama” hats. I did not even realize how much I needed this rest time until I had it.
Now, tomorrow, my husband is headed back to work. I am ready for normal again but I am not ready for the busyness on the inside and on the outside of me. I can feel it creeping up in my thoughts, feelings and actions the last day or so. Yuck! Are you with me?
Is there a way we can be at rest, agree with peace, even during our average normal everyday lives? I believe there is. I have not arrived there yet, but I sign up for the challenge. I do not see myself at my best when I am living to check things off a list or trying to keep up with the “urgent” tasks. Is that really living anyway?
I go back to what I know to be true. The words that speak life, freedom and peace to me, my Father’s. He says to me, “Be still and Know I am God”. He is the Father of life, He is Life himself, and He tells us that He has abundant life for us. Can’t you imagine our Father looking deep into our eyes, His daughter, and whispering to us, Be still love. I am God. You are not and you were never meant to be. You are mine. I have you, I have a plan, and I care for your family. Take a deep breath in and out. He actually does say that all, in His Word. Oh what good news!
Be still sister. Savor a moment you are in, before going to the next item on your list.
Watch your children. Smile when you enjoy something, and enjoy that smile.
Say yes to reading that story or stopping to look into your child’s eyes while they are talking to you.
Sit on your couch for a few moments doing absolutely nothing.
[Tweet “Stop, from your rushing. It is a choice, to be still. “]
Yesterday I had some alone hours with my son. I had many things on my mind to accomplish. I did some of them and then I remembered my son watching a movie. I went to join him for the end, and then he climbed into my lap. I got to snuggle close and look into his eyes. This is something I do not do enough. It will take practice, and we may fail. But, we can try again! We are not limited to only making resolutions on January 1st but we can start fresh everyday. His mercies are real and the good news is they are new EVERY morning.
Know, He is God. When you do not know what to do in a situation with one of your children, know He is God. He has an answer. When you have had a rough day, know He is God. Share your frustruations and questions with Him. When you have had a wonderful day, know He is God and rejoice with Him! No matter what is happening in your life, He is still God and He’s really got you in the palm of His hand.
As I walk into tomorrow, I will practice being still and knowing my God is really God. I am not. Neither are you.
Peace my sister. Decide not to do one thing today and instead BE. Whisper to your soul, “Be still, and know He is God.” Since He is God, you mama can be still. Perhaps, that is actually living.
What keeps you from being still? Worry? Fear? Regret? What is one way you can stop and be still in the midst of the business of your days? To Know that He is God?
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