Saturday, April 17, 2010

Caught In The "Do It All" Syndrome - part 5 in a series

WOW, it's been a month since I last posted on the Inspiration Series.  I was planning on having this series done by now, but as you know, life had other plans.  I have been completely caught up in the "do it all" syndrome.  I apologize for anyone that has been waiting.

Do you get caught in the "Do It All" syndrome?  Who are we doing it for though?  Our purpose on life is not to do it for the church or the PTA, but for what our Father gave us to do.  Focus on good worthwhile things while still knowing that it can't all be done.  Our purpose is to bring glory to the one who gives us the opportunity to tackle this balancing act.  How can we do this when our homes are constantly in a state of bedlam and make it beautiful.

First and foremost you must prioritize the important.  Sift through all your yes' and no's and figure out where you want to spend your quality time.  Embrace the simple, don't let busyness take hold, and don't let the little things turn into big things.  Implement purposeful intentionality!

Oneway to do this is to instill traditions in your home.  We all have them but the difference I am talking about are the ones that you do yearlong and not just holiday traditions.  Christmas and Thanksgiving become so jam packed with to do lists and traditions which makes it the most stressful time of the year.

Start a heart of loving kindness project.  Look for unique way that you can poor love and encourage.  Simple lunch box notes, encouragement through a "kiss" and a "good luck".  Don't let you children or your husband walk out the door without showing them love and encouragment to fight the battles they will tackle in the outside world.

Service builds character. We can serve in many ways but you can also serve with your home.  Mark your doorposts as a warm haven and refuge.  How do you do that?  Well, senses are the way that we all experience life.  We feel good when those senses are heightened and stimulated.  Make sure your home shows warmth, welcoming, nourishment, encouragement, soothing, stimulating, and satisfying (just to name a few).  All of these feelings communicate love to the ones around you.

It's easy to see bloggers around whom you think have it all together but just remember that when they are blogging about their lives and showing you pics of their home or craft projects, etc; they are just showing one corner.  There is another corner out of the frame that has mountains of laundry I can promise.  No house on this world looks like the magazines and I can almost promise that if it does, it isn't communicating love in all the ways that it can.  Think about it?  If you go into a home that is spotless, do you feel soothed, welcomed or warm?  I know I don't.

Here's a shocking statistic: 80% if us women believe we don't measure up!  That's a lot of us that are giving ourselves the credit that we deserve.  There isn't a mold that we all have to follow.  That would make life boring,  God gave us our individuality and it is our responsibility to embrace that.  Queen Esther did extraordinary things for God but was just an ordinary woman.  Her gift of hospitality made her extraordinary. 

"Ordinary things done with intentionality become extraordinary!"

Chose to begin living intentional with the ordinary!

1 comment:

Melissa Miller said...

Hi Beth!
It is so nice to meet you! I really appreciate your sweet visit and that you are following along as well. Yay! I'll do the same. I really like your precious and fun blog! I can tell already I will be back often for inspiration. You have done a beautiful job!

How fun we are swap partners! I will find you the cutest flip flops ever. LOL! I'm really looking forward to it.

*Blessings & Smiles* ~Melissa :)