Week two y'all! We made it! Just a few (LOT) more to go before hopefully everything can go back to normal...if that's even possible. This past week, my goal was to be even more intentional about how we spend our time. I don't want to start off this whole "self-distancing" thing strong and by the end of it lose sight of what's important. I feel like we were pretty decent stewards of our time this week. We kept up our new routine of devotion/learning/craft time when the baby naps in the morning, and on the non rainy days, we go play outside until lunch. We keep to our nap routine (some days the boy naps, and other days he has "quiet time", because lets face it, momma NEEDS a break, otherwise the monster version of her comes out) and spend the afternoons back outside (rainy days we do movie afternoons) and then at 5:30 my hubby is done working from home and we either work on our backyard project or just hang out inside together, but the key word there is TOGETHER. This bonding time is SO precious for our family and I pray it is for yours as well.
A word that keeps coming to me this week is Flourish. The word Flourish means to 'grow or develop in a healthy or vigorous way, especially as the result of a particularly favorable environment.' which perfectly goes along with Colossians 2:7 which says "Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness."
Well folks, pretty sure God is literally giving us the TIME and space to take a breath during all of this and GROW. But only if you let Him. And how perfect is it that all of this is happening in the Spring?! right when everything is being rooted in the soil so it can grow and produce flowers/leaves/fruits/veggies. It's like God is giving us a tangible example of what we need to be doing. We NEED to be digging deeper into the word of God and establishing our roots and the foundation of our families in HIM.
The 'favorable environment' in the definition is our homes and with our families. I think families have forgotten how to be families with all of the technology available and the way the world tells us we have to be busy, busy, busy nonstop all day and half the night in order to be "successful" or "important" or whatever. And that's not right. Jesus said, "Come to me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light."
I think this whole nation is EXHAUSTED. We are all weary, carry heavy burdens and put too much pressure on ourselves to BE something or somebody. Why are we doing this to ourselves?! Why are we running ourselves ragged, working too much, juggling a million different things at once, comparing ourselves to other people who are more successful or have well behaved kids or are a 'better' parent than we are?! Why do we do it?? God gives us REST when we come to him with all of this, when we lay it at his feet. And I feel like this isn't just for mental/spiritual rest, but physical rest as well. It's good for us to REST with our families (if you're like me with littles running around, it's not actually "rest" at all) but just being at home WITH all the craziness is rest in itself. My husband still has to work his 40 hours a week so it's not like we're all just having a staycation or anything. But getting a break from all of the to do lists, the errands, the birthday parties, the playgroups, the church functions, and everything else that we do on a weekly basis is recharging in its own way. I hope when all of this is over, that we've solidified a new way of our family dynamic, that we prioritize days to REST at home, even if it means saying no to fun things. Prioritizing rest will show our children how to rest well spiritually and hopefully teach them how important it is to not be like the world, to take time to find their strengths, find out who they are in Christ, find their hobbies (which are usually only found in boredom), and not be stressed because they know how to rest in His presence.
The only way our children will see how to FLOURISH throughout their lives is to see it in practice at home. To see us using our free time to dig deeper into the word of God, to see us crying out to Jesus when we're weary and tired, to see us worshiping in his presence, to see us asking for forgiveness, to see us helping others, to see us investing in our marriage, to see us investing our time in them instead of our phones (preaching to me here!) amongst many other things will truly help them to be rooted in Christ as they grow.
If we prioritize time NOW, in this rest period that we're literally being forced to take, to really dig deep, to pray for the Lord to reveal to you what YOU need to be doing for his kingdom, for your family, for your kids, for your neighbors, for whatever he places on your heart, how much more glory would God get in our day to day life?! If you start the day thanking Jesus for your breath, and continue the day with thankfulness in your heart, how would that change your outlook on literally your whole life?! I think if we all rooted ourselves deeper with the Lord to grow our faith during this season, we'd find the rest that our bodies and soul are so desperately craving, and we'd have renewed energy to flourish well.
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