Spring is officially upon us! We embraced the beautiful weather with countless walks around the neighborhood, iced coffee, and open windows!
I don’t know about you, but spring always makes me crave a fresh start. After a long winter, I started noticing the filth in my house. The cabinet doors needed a good scrubbing, the windows needed to be polished, and my entire house needed to be dusted from top to bottom. Of course, my choleric temperament created a sense of urgency. I NEEDED to power clean our living space, and it HAD to happen as soon as possible.
I started my spring cleaning project in the kitchen! Drawer by drawer and cabinet by cabinet, I removed everything. I washed down the shelves and reorganized them as I put things back in their rightful place. What I thought would be a simple chore turned into a full-day project. The baby was not interested in taking a long nap. So between tummy time and feedings, I completed a few cabinets at a time.
I often fall under the trap of basing my worth on the amount of work I can accomplish. Because of this, I have adopted a ‘performance’ mindset. That same mindset was getting annoyed because the job was not promptly getting done! The baby needed me, so the cupboards had to wait.
Balancing our work and play is a challenging endeavor. My mantra states, “Work hard now so you can rest hard later!” But unfortunately, there is no balance to that lifestyle. By the time I finish my workload, I am too exhausted to enjoy resting. So why do I keep living this way? Can you relate?
The first and foremost way to live a balanced lifestyle is to prioritize our vocation. The Lord blessed me as a wife and mother. The mundane tasks of day-to-day life are more rewarding to my family than the massive projects I undertake. My husband appreciated that I cleaned our cabinets but would not have loved me any less if it did not get done. My daughter's love will only be fostered when I intentionally spend time with her and teach!
God Himself rested from His work (Genesis 2:2-3). He promises to give us rest (Matthew 11:28-30). He has even gifted us a day each week to rest (Exodus 20:8-10).
These words do not give us an excuse to be lazy. The laundry still needs to be folded and the dishes washed. Scripture assures us that we are guaranteed quality rest if we follow the Lord. There is nothing we can do to earn more of His love. Take comfort in knowing you are doing a great job! God's love for you is steadfast and completely free!
Until next time~your sister in Christ,
Abby