Among the numerous gifts that came from experiencing God’s grace and presence in such an embodied way was learning the rhythms of self-acceptance and self-compassion. As a bona fide people pleaser, I had the tendency to frantically run around like a chicken with its head cut off to be there for others, to try to look perfect, to try to be perfect.
Summer is an interesting season, to say the least. For some, the workload slows down, the office gets quieter, school is out, carpool lanes shut down for the season, vacations begin, and all is well. On the other hand, some individuals and families want to maximize the ‘slower season’ by scheduling appointments to the doctor and DIY house projects. Their calendar quickly fills up with weddings, pool parties, trips, and other social events and activities.
Does what we do really matter? Can one person make a difference?
When we live intentionally, our choices impact every aspect of our lives. With that purposeful perception comes the conviction that jobs, homes, lifestyles, and hobbies can and should be leveraged to their full potential and for a greater purpose than our own comfort.
When I’m with a group of women, I dread one question: “Do you have…”? I know what’s coming before they finish. It’s a question that stings the most, one I’d like to dodge, skip, or pretend I didn’t hear. For women yearning for motherhood, this is a loaded question that can stir emotions that bring you to your knees. Especially if you’re longing for a child, hoping and praying this will be the month, or you mourn the loss of a child.
My grandfather was dying. As I raced to catch a late-night flight from Florida to my home in Houston, my mind flooded with memories of this man I had called Paw-Paw for nearly half a century.