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Anyone who mothers ten children, loves the Lord, and reaches out to so many others with love and grace, has so many lessons learned from which all of us can glean wisdom.
I'm thrilled to have my sweet friend, September McCarthy, here with a guest post today! During this busy time of life, I knew that the concept she shares about a hula hoop life would really speak to you as it did to me. I know you'll enjoy her writing and relate to the thoughts she's sharing with us--plus we have a fun giveaway for you! ~ Sally
McCarthy Clan
There are nights when I finally lay my head on my pillow and my ears are ringing. It takes time for my ears to adjust to the quiet. With days full of children, talking, teaching, music, playing, laughing, children fussing, appliances running, kitchen noise, grocery store visits, and long discussions at night with my husband, a night-time routine seems to take over any grand allusions of rest.
I have to laugh about this. I am most likely in sensory overload every day, and do not even realize it.
Driving our children to church the other night, I found myself saying this: “We have a 15 minute drive to church, and I would like everyone to have quiet time for our drive there." Keep in mind we have a 15 passenger van full of our children. Quiet? I gave many warnings, and the older children worked to keep the younger ones happy and quiet(er). Seem silly? Ringing ears bring desperate measures!
I had 15 minutes to come down from busy. I was preparing my heart for worship and learning, and believe it or not, in those very short 15 minutes, I was dreaming. I was seeing a vision beyond my daily routine and the season I am in every day. Realistic, goal-setting dreaming.
Since this is important in my life – to have a time of thinking, dreaming, planning-- I have found that sometimes I have to turn off the noise of the world, and tune back in to what really matters. I need to turn away from the distractions and clutter that might make me feel defeated.
Is there a quiet place in your heart where you keep dreams and pursuits safe for another day? Your mind might wander there during your daily schedules, thinking of the possibilities you could create if … you only just had…More Time.
When the fog becomes so thick you don’t feel like you can propel through it any more, pull over and give it to God.
If you are a woman with a burden that rests heavy on your heart and mind, please remember this:
YOU matter to God. He created this hard (and sometimes, noisy) thing called womanhood, and He has equipped us with all we need. The other things don’t take the front seat like He does.
May I encourage you today to live your dreams in the right seasons of your life? Many times in our circles, the need to rest is not recognized. This is a practice that is often neglected –to be still. I learned this the hard way and perhaps you have as well.
When your days become clouded with noise and your vision and purpose becomes clouded with discouragement, I urge you, my friend, to step back and abide.
Even in the midst of all of the noise that leaves my ears ringing at night, I can hear Him whisper daily to me. My space has become a quiet reserve for Him. There is a peace in knowing that the choices I make for Him daily will have an effect for eternity. He has given me a quiet resolve to be content.
I understand the woman who feels at the mercy of her schedule, and your heart may beat to a different rhythm than your day has planned for you. You might be asking yourself, “When will life slow down a little? Will I ever be able to swim into the current of my own passions and desires, rather than feeling like I am swimming upstream against it all?"
May I encourage you to take a little time to read my story here? I share how I found hope in laying down pursuits that can weigh us down, as we dare to dream and pick up our passions with a new and focused energy – in the right season of our lives.
I compare our extra pursuits and ambitions to hula hoops. We have to keep them moving in constant motion and if we take time to breathe, they fall. I dare to dream, but have had to learn the process of balance, flexibility and acceptance to keep a focus on what is truly important.
Friend, can you identify the “extra’s,” you may have chosen to pick up and pursue overflow into a category of exhaustion, confusion, overload, or imbalance? Can I humbly challenge you to – drop those hula hoops? Choose your center – and Keep Christ there.
I would love to hear from you. I can understand those days when your dreams, your pursuits and noise seem to crowd out any chance to think beyond your daily routine. My book, Hula Hoop Girl, is an easy read, full of hope and my story of imbalance and imperfection…finding hope in balance. Today, Sally is giving away three copies!
a Rafflecopter giveaway Matthew 11:28-30 – “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Written by September, @ One September Day
Author of Hula Hoop Girl