Happy Friday to you!
A little over a year ago, I led a pretty normal life. I was a 23-year old, living at home with my parents, still enjoying the freedom of dreaming. I had a well paying, ordinary office job that I swore I would someday ditch for life as a missionary in some exotic country that had not yet been discovered. I went to church every Sunday without question, led worship, and enjoyed family night each week. I dreamt of the day my God-fearing, prince charming would come to my father and ask for my hand in marriage. We would travel the world, preaching the gospel with backpacks on our backs and no worldly cares.
Today, my life is very different. I am a 24-year old housewife and mother of a nearly 3 month old baby girl who demands most of my time and attention. My days begin with a sweet cry, beckoning milk, and the sound of my husband grinding his teeth. After I see him off to a 12-hour work day, it’s just me and baby. It’s a daily effort trying not to lose myself in the midst of feedings, 1/2 hour crying episodes, play time, cleaning, sporadic napping, diaper changes, and cooking. In a world where showering is a luxury, it’s hard to make time for caring for my inner woman. I used to spend hours in free worship, talking to the Lord every chance I got, always focused on my next best God steps. Now, the struggle is real.
There are two lessons I’m learning during the dramatic changes in my life. The first is: there is always time. Like me, many of you are consumed by the whirlwind that is your every day. After working most of the “good hours” of the day, running errands, keeping appointments, making meals, etc, it seems like there isn’t enough time to do much else. Not enough time to pray or read the bible. Not enough time to eat dinner with your family or play tag with your kids. Not enough time to listen to a friend or attend to the needs of your spouse…there just isn’t enough time!
You’re wrong…there is always time!!!
Contrary to the normalization of busyness in our culture, we don’t actually HAVE to do all the things we cram into our schedules. Not everything, we tell ourselves we have to do is of equal importance. Unfortunately, God, our families, our friends, and even ourselves end up taking a back seat to the “busy work”. We don’t prioritize the important things because they are constant. They aren’t going anywhere. It is this way of thinking that gets us to a place of emptiness and weariness. We must learn to invest in our constants and make time for what is important. It is dangerous to lose yourself in a life that is ever-changing. Eliminate the junk and make time.
The second lesson I’m learning while adjusting to the changes in my life is: purpose is fixed. When I got pregnant with my daughter, I quit my job. After giving it some thought, I decided not to go back to work. I wanted to invest in her early years as much as possible. While I do love my daughter and enjoy every moment (yes, even when I’m changing poopy diapers), there are times where I just feel worthless. I feel like I don’t actually DO anything worth mentioning. I know some of you share my struggle. Perhaps, you work a 9 to 5 that you don’t particularly feel is your calling. You wish you could be doing so much more.
Well, you’re in luck. Your purpose is fixed.
I may not be a vagabond missionary, but my heart still aches for the lost children of God. I still long to share the gospel and worship with reckless abandon. Though the path I’m taking to live out my purpose is different, my purpose remains the same because the Lord gave it to me. That means, while I’m at the grocery store and someone walks over to peek at the baby, I share the love of Christ and tell of His goodness. It means while I’m washing dishes with my little one strapped to me, I lift my voice with high praises (so loud even the neighbors can hear).
Whatever you’re doing, wherever you find yourself, live out the purpose the Lord placed in your heart.
This weekend, I challenge each of you not to make excuses for why you cannot live a full life. Pay attention to the time you have, and use it wisely. Let every moment be purpose driven. Remember not to misuse or abuse your constants. Always make lemonade out of your lemons. Until next time,