When my kids were little, the daily routine of diapers, fixing meals, and getting up nights to feed the baby or settle my toddler made me feel like I was on a treadmill. Worn out and weary, I’d wonder what happened to the abundant, joyful life I read about in the Bible.
Paul’s word to “Rejoice in the Lord always” sounded irrelevant. What was joy anyway? Was that like pie in the sky by and by? Maybe joy was for heaven? Half the time I was just trying to survive now without losing my mind!
Today my kids are older, but the challenge remains: how to move beyond survival into a more joyful life? We women carpool kids, hold down jobs, cook, clean, make sure the kids to do their homework, and teach Sunday school. How do we get off the treadmill?
I’m writing for Fearfully Made Mom today. Come on over to read the rest of this post.
Linking up with Holly Barrett’s Testimony Tuesday.
I read your post over there, and it’s lovely! Too often our lives are so busy and scheduled, it can be so easy to never slow down. But some of the best moments and memories happen when we do!
Visiting from Testimony Tuesday!
Thanks Jen. It IS hard to slow down, but it’s what I need most to pursue more joy!
Loved your suggestions and loved that they all started with slowing down. We can’t possibly do those things without slowing down first. Appreciate your encouragement to all those young moms who are trying to figure out how to do it all. I’m always telling my daughter who has 2 littles and one on the way, “you can’t do it all!” Thanks for linking up to Testimony Tuesday.
My mother always told me that too! “You can’t do it all!” Sometimes I think I still haven’t really learned that lesson! 🙂 Thanks for puttong on Testimony Tuesday for us.
Thanks for sharing this lovely reminder with us, Betsy. Psalm 16:11 has always been one of my favorites. Blessings!