the here and now
“Wherever you are, be all there.”
The oft-quoted admonition from Jim Elliot is a constant struggle for this work-at-home mom. I can’t leave my job at the store. There’s more work waiting for me when I come home.
And, of course, there’s the housework, the mom-work, the work that every mom does, stay-at-home or not.
How can I be here with my children when my to-do list is always here, too?
How can I be here with my husband when I have an idea brewing in my head that’s waiting to be written?
How can I be here in my home when there are work responsibilities waiting for me at my desk?
The guilt piles on and I wish I could be that mom who never has a need to be on the computer when her children are awake. The to-do list keeps growing but I wish I could do nothing but read stories aloud all morning.
That’s when I remember that my Jesus leads each one differently. And that maybe, just maybe, I’m looking at this all wrong. Maybe it’s not all or nothing.
“Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God.”
Every situation. Is it possible that I can live motherhood and wifehood and work and ministry—and even writing—all to the hilt?
If it is the will of God.
Can I be passionate about more than one thing at once? Can my love for my family be both the reason and the balance to my work? Can my creativity be both the overflow and the passion of my life as a mother and wife?
Lord, grow my passions according to Your will. Increase my desire for You, my love for my husband and my children. Help me channel my creativity into my house work as well as my web work. Give me the wisdom to forego the tyranny of the urgent that I might not forsake the eternal that is here and now. Help me to be “all there” wherever Your will places me.
{written for the Five-Minute Friday prompt “here” that took much longer than five minutes to put into words…}
Great response to the writing prompt “here”, Gretchen Louise. God uses my granddaughter quite often regarding mindfulness; giving all my attention to her in our moment together.. I recently experienced quite a surreal moment when I chose to not only sit with her to play, but to set my thoughts on her.. When God is our guide, moments find their rightful place.
I love that Jim Elliot quote. I think it’s so important to live in the here and now and be “all there”. So many times I find myself looking to the future and making plans and even worrying when God wants me to just be content in the now and enjoy each moment 🙂
Amen! (And yes, Jim Elliot was so very quoteable!)
beauty full
& timely
and that quote on the putty flower, wow.
blessings.
The constant struggle that we can only find victory in Him. Love this Gretchen…fantastic!
Amen, we can only find victory in Him! Thanks for the encouragement, Jess.
Gretchen – as always you encourage me to take a step back and be in the moment. Thank you for the beautiful little postcard I get to print out and remind me to stay in the moment. God will take care of the rest.
Blessings ~
Thank you, Mary. So appreciate your comment.
The struggle to balance our many loves and passions is one I know well. Praising God for the strength and wisdom in which only HE can provide.
Your prayer is lovely! May you be blessed as you continue to follow His will.
Amen–and He is so faithful to provide it!