Wednesday, May 30, 2012

The Joy Factor

Lately (for the past 2+ years), when I am feeling bummed with life, I go visit the triplets. Nephews and niece that graced the world with their births and they continue to be a blessing. I can say this as their aunt.....I don't have to live with them. BUT I probably would, if I could.

They were slightly preemie. They came home and it always seemed like at least one needed to be eating. What a bonus though. Instead of all of us fawning over one baby.....3 of us would get to hold a baby during a visit. It seemed like that stage would last forever. It didn't.

It seemed like they would be happy staying within those cushioned "walls" of the wrap around couch. It wasn't. They learned that there was a whole world waiting to be explored beyond the couch.

I know kids experience and give joy. I'm sure my kids have (and still do!). However, maybe I'm just paying closer attention to the triplets because our kids are older.

I love to watch the triplets learn something for the first time...and then repeat it....even days later. They are such little copycats with repeating the words and phrases we say.

I want to learn to copycat some of their ways though. The way they experience the world....fresh each day. The content feeling they have just snuggling on a lap. The joy they get from learning OR just having fun. Spinning for no reason other than it makes people laugh as they topple over.

Kids have a joy factor that we can only hope to copy. If the world or circumstances don't prevent it, that joy can stay for a long time. I pray that we adults can find that joy that sometimes hides beneath our responsibilities.

Join me for a spin and topple?  :)

Romans 12:11-12 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Psalm 51:12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Thursday, May 03, 2012

D. O. T. - D. O. N. T.

I believe I have already admitted to being a procrastinator. If not, I am a procrastinator with a capital P. Recently, I found myself matching socks. A somewhat worthy job.....BUT not as much as getting our taxes done! :(  When overwhelmed, I can find ALL kinds of busy work.....and accomplish little.

I make "to-do" lists that have way too many items on for one day and then feel bummed I didn't get them all done. I very rarely ever feel like I have a "done" list.

So, today it hit me. I am looking at too much of the big picture. Normally, a good thing....but when faced with getting little to nothing done? Not so good. I get so overwhelmed and frustrated when I look at ALL I need to get done....or should be doing....I freeze up. Time flies. I watch TV/play on the computer. Time for bed (actually WAAAAYYY past time for bed).

I think I have a solution, I hope. I'm going to start trying D.O.T. Do One Thing. I'm going to do the most immediately needed "to do" thing first. If it is a BIG project, that takes all day to complete....so be it. I'll still make a "to-do" (or in my case "doo-doo" list) so I don't forget the overall things that need to get done. I drive myself nuts otherwise trying to remember what I wanted to accomplish. BUT I only need to pick ONE THING from that list.....and then:

D.O.N.T. Do One Next Thing, repeat the cycle....over and over until I am feeling at least a bit more caught up.

If you are also a procrastinator princess or prince, take heart:

Philippians 3:12-14 (NIV)
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Wednesday, May 02, 2012

Trust Fall

Recently, I watched my nephews. It's been awhile, but I love checking in with them and seeing what they like now and playing games, etc. As our own kids get older, I miss those younger years....when they wanted to spend time with me!  ;)

As one of them was getting ready for bed, he turned around and said, "Do you know what a trust fall is?" I told him I did, and he quickly turned back, put his arms across his chest and promptly fell backwards so I could catch him. I have seen these done in groups. I'm glad he wasn't much bigger, I would have hated to drop him! Oops, there goes that trust!

Trust is such a valued thing and can be so easily lost.

The more I thought about it, I don't physically do trust falls often. However, intellectually and mentally, I have trust falls everyday! Sometimes (I'm getting better, kinda) I'm the faller trusting that the other person will catch me and my intentions. Usually though, I find myself being the catcher....and that's OK. I am glad that I have people in my life who trust me enough to be willing to share their journey.

Whether you are a catcher or you need to fall a bit, I pray that you have people in your life that you can trust enough to be there for you when you need them to be.

Always remember too that God is the most trusted catcher ever. When there are things that you don't think anyone else could possibly understand or it's way too late to phone even your closest friend, God's there waiting for us to trust Him enough to let Him catch us.

Psalm 9:9-10 (NIV) The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you. 

Psalm 56:3-4 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?