When Linette announced in her Christmas letter that she was making the goal of cutting out all extras in 2020, I applauded her transparency and asked if she'd share about it on Home Joys.
I
am a goal-oriented person. I love lists and crossing things off. Sometimes I add things to
my lists that I’ve already done just for the thrill of making a
line through it.
I
am a visionary person. Life will never be long enough for me to meet
all the goals that I want to achieve. There is always one more place
I’d love to visit, one more book to read, one more craft or sewing
project I’d like to finish, or one more new recipe to try.
I
also have entrepreneur tendencies. My brain has dreamed up multiple projects. My love of learning has sent me spiraling in many diverse
directions. I have tried to conjure the energy, time, and resources of
any interested persons (and some not-so-interested, particularly
children) to pull off many strategies and schemes.
But
this year I am resolved to change my goals and routines. As much as I
love gardening and flowers and baking and crafting and everything
else in between, I am determined to scale way back on all those
things that don’t have to be done.
These changes are backed
by a goal to focus on rest and relationships. What is the most
important anyway?
I
had a conversation with an older woman who spoke wisdom to my heart.
At that moment, I was overwhelmed with the responsibilities that had
been placed on my shoulders. She simply suggested that maybe God
didn’t intend for me to do all the things that I thought needed
done and that, most importantly, it was essential to recognize and
prioritize the work that God had specifically given to me. Her words
leaked into my heart in ways beyond the situation we were talking
about and gave me courage to lay down the non-essentials…at least
for a season of time.
Honesty
has called me to realize that busyness has been a hindrance in my life. I have been so busy with trying to manage and achieve all my goals, projects, and activities that other areas of my life were
suffering. I am hoping that with the cutting out of extra-curricular
things I will have more time and energy for occasions like tea
parties with my three-year-old, taking a walk out the back lane, or
intentionally making memories with a friend.
Most of all, I regret the
moments I’ve lost with God. My goal this year is to rest in the
Lord and renew my relationship with Him and others. This may mean
that I need to get to bed in good time so that I can get up to pray
before my children awake. It might take the giving up of a project
that I wanted to finish. It could be making time to do
things that nurture and revive my soul.
At times it is going to take
a decisive choice. But at the end of my life I want to be able to say
like Jesus in John 17:4. “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have
finished the work which thou gavest me to do.”
- Linette Horst - Maryland
COMPARTO TOTALMENTE LO PUBLICADO POR LINETTE, SIENTO QUE ELLA HA HABLADO POR MI EN MUCHOS ASPECTOS, MI RELACION CON DIOS, LEER MAS LA BIBLIA, MI RELACION CON MI FAMILIA Y CON LOS DEMAS, DEDICARME A MIS PROYECTOS DE COSTURA, TEJIDOS, MANUALIDADES QUE TANTO Y TANTO ME GUSTAN, SOY UNA MUJER MUY CREATIVA, DIOS ME DA LA SUFICIENTE INTELIGENCIA PARA PODER CREAR COSAS, TANTO ES ASI, QUE ESTOY PENSANDO EN TENER MI PROPIO NEGOCIO, VENDIENDO BOLSOS TEJIDOS, BOLSAS PARA EL BAÑO Y LA COCINA, GUANTES, MITONES, BUFANDAS, ALMOHADONES ECT. ECT. BENDICIONES GINA Y ME GUSTA SIEMPRE LEER TU BLOG, TAMBIEN COMPARTIMOS GUSTOS EN PINTEREST. SALUDOS.
ReplyDeleteI love the advice that has been given in the post! So meaningful to me at this time of my life with homeschool, taking care of aging parents, moving to a mission outreach, etc.Blessings!
ReplyDeleteThis might be my favorite writing on Home Joys this month. In order to save my sanity and health, it became necessary to lop some things out of my life. For a season anyway. To help prioritize, ask yourself whether this "project" will matter on Judgment Day.
ReplyDeleteSounds like an excellent choice, being intentional about all we do in honor of God's time and the talents He has given us.
ReplyDeleteGreat to hear, Linette. It sounds like we have good and bad things in common! God is able to give to you what your heart is desiring, and give you wisdom to choose... Blessings!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing, ladies, about goals and routines. I learned something from each post.
ReplyDeleteI’ve learned and been encouraged by all of the writers. This last was a good one to end on. I’ve been doing the same, learning to cut out what isn’t important. As someone who loves to do things “from scratch” I’ve even realized I don’t have to do everything myself. It’s alright to go buy a loaf of bread instead of baking when I’m overwhelmed. Those little things add up to more time. Time for what really matters.
ReplyDeleteThis series on goals and routines was an inspired way to begin a new year. It blessed many lives; I know it blessed mine. Thank you, Gina, and thank you, all who wrote these installments.
ReplyDelete- - B.