“Many are the plans in the mind of man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” Proverbs 19:21 (ESV)
Great Expectations
How has your summer been? Is it going the way you thought it would? At the start of every summer, I always had great plans for what we would accomplish. We would start our days with glorious hikes in the mountains. We would plant a garden in the backyard and make all of our meals from its abundance. Lazy afternoons would be spent journaling and dreaming. And we would almost always finish the nights with gazing up at the starry sky and contemplating the wonders of God.
That is not exactly what it looked like in reality. Instead, we had a constant stream of dirty dishes, dirty laundry, and dirty faces. Kids ran in and out of our house making the thought of a schedule almost impossible, and I was good if I could get to Costco to buy enough food for whoever ended up at the dinner table that night. We did have lots of late nights under the stars, but only because we would eat so late that I was still cleaning the kitchen and straightening the house from the day’s activities. However, our reality ended up being as perfect as the dream.
I had to let go of my great expectations for what a summer should look like and embrace what it did look like. I relaxed into what my family thought was a great idea for the day instead of insisting on my own well-thought-out plans. And we had a ball. We did get some hikes in, although sometimes they were more like walks around the park by our house. We did eat well, although sometimes we had macaroni and cheese and frozen peas. We spent countless nights lying on the trampoline, just being together. I am sure we were all contemplating the mysteries of God in our ways in our own minds.
Blessings and Love,
Julie
Go Deeper:
Dear moms, let go of what you think it should look like and embrace what it is. Enjoy the gift of the day and relax into it. When we invite God into each day, He can make it holy. The wonder of watching ants on the sidewalk in front of your house can be every bit as exhilarating as the view from a mountaintop. You can still contemplate the wonders of God from your kitchen sink. And a trip to the local ice cream store can be just as tasty and fun as picking a fresh strawberry from your garden.
What’s Next?
Stop and look around. If it doesn’t look like what you thought it would, is it still good? Are you following the Lord, loving Him with all of your mind, soul, spirit, and strength? Are you sharing that love with your children and their friends? Make your focus about loving God and loving your neighbors and let the rest go. Ask God to show you how to love like He loves. Listen to your children when they express delight over something. Relax into the plans that God has for your summer. After all, He is the creator of mountaintops and ladybugs. He is the One who placed those stars in the night sky. He gave someone the idea of ice cream and strawberries. He created you and placed your children in your home. He can bless each day with His abundance and joy.
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart…and with all your mind.” Matthew 22:37 (ESV)
- Feeding the Multitude - November 18, 2023
- What Should I Wear Today? - October 10, 2021
- I’m Hungry - July 3, 2021