I've scratched my old to do lists. They plum weren't working for me. The search of perfection in home, in family, in life, wearing this momma out. stealing the joy in our home.
In all my list making attempts, of the mind and on the paper, my priorities jumbled up and fell off the page.
When the simple is overlooked, life mixes up. Smiles tend to fade. Tasks smother joy. Anxiety creeps in. Mommas wither and wilt.
This week, I grabbed my eraser and went after the chalkboard covered lists in my life.
With new chalk and resolve, I copied
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." - Mark 12: 30-31
Smack dab in the word, it hit me. Something I had missed countless times before. The little word as.
To love everyone else, I have to love myself first. I can only love them AS much as I love myself. Its kinda hard to love my neighbor as myself when there's a drought in my love tank.
Wresting a porcupine is easier than truly loving my family when I struggle to love who I am. Ouch. But true. Too true. So, this momma is making a new list. A new 'to do'. Relearning to take care of myself, to love myself. Amazingly, the love spills much easier onto others when I do.
Love God. Love myself. Love everyone else. The new 'to-do' around here.
Kinda loving our momma notes. Wanna join us? Slip your fave recipe, notes of encouragement, birthday pics, all things gloriously mom, into the link up. Just moms. Sharing our notes. Creating a melody.
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20 comments:
It's perfect. I love this and I needed it. So refreshing as always, to splash around here.
And that's an excellent to-do list to have! ;) Thanks so much for hosting today!
So true! When we complicate life, it makes everything around us out of sync. Great observation...how can we love others properly if we don't love ourselves. Thanks so much for hosting and thanks for dropping by! Have a blessed week!
Michell @Prowess and Pearls
You speak my language, Sarah. Thanks for the timely reminder. Summer is so easy to fill with to do lists instead of just BEing. I linked up today too- hope it can be some encouragement too :)
That is beautiful!
Funny.. I was just about to make my list of to do's for this week!! LOL!
Blessings,
Janet
Reading this for some reason gave me chills...maybe because I too have started a new " to do list" I suppose. Mine started just last week with me feeling the need to pray for my family, but then recognizing I had to start by praying for me first.
Recently wrote this verse out in my prayer journal as a "note to self"..Thank you for the gentle reminder...
Thanks for the invite Sarah! I love to be part of a fun gathering of encouraging women! Hope to get to know you better!
Marissa
http://forfunreadinglist.blogspot.com
Awww I love this..it is so true to love ourselves and you are so right! When we do love ourselves the way God wants us to..without perfection...we can freely love :)
Thank you for inviting me to your wonderful link up! Blessings to you!
"New chalk" rocks!
We definitely have to take care of ourselves in a healthy way as moms, or it's hard to pour what we need to into our families! Thanks for stopping by my blog!
Thanks for stopping by my blog yesterday! I love your splash motif here. It reminds me of the FFH song, "So Is His Love," one of my favorites. In the lyrics is, "Bring your feet down, Splash around, This is our life in Him...So is His love. So is His grace. So is the Lord. Come trust His Name. See your life renewed."
Thanks for giving me that song to run around my head today!
Blessings, and have a magnificent day!
Tina @ Mommynificent
AMEN!
Thanks for dropping by, Sarah! I'm just curious, how did you find me?
By the way, my primary blog is at nikkis-notes.blogspot.com.
Thanks for always encouraging me, love you bunches.
Amen, Sarah! We must take time to love ourselves and appreciate the fact we are beloved children of God before we can truly love others. So well said here!
Blessings!
Yes and amen!
{Melinda} Just this week, I resolved to take some solid steps to take better care of me. Not a luxury, a necessity. :) Thanks for the confirmation that I'm doing the right thing. Sometimes we moms feel unearned guilt! :)
I love your theme. I wanted to thank you for stopping by my blog. I will bookmark your site and check for new posts often. I look forward to connecting with you.
Thanks for stopping by my blog. I love finding other homeschool blogs. You have an amazing blog.
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