We all long for a sense of purpose, to know our calling in life, and to feel like we’re part of something bigger than just our day-to-day. We can spend our entire lives searching for that ONE THING that God’s called us to do. I’ve found, however, that our calling is not a destination. It’s a process of submitting and surrendering to the path God has us on all along the way.
Not long after graduation, I began my first job as a triage counselor at a community mental health center. I considered it a sacred gift that, each day, individuals from all walks of life would step through my door and share their stories with a courageous vulnerability that made me ache to do something to alleviate their pain. It’s hard to hold out peace to those around you, though, when your own heart is unsettled. I may have been sitting in the seat of a professional, but I was full of insecurities myself, not just about my career but about all of my shortcomings.
As busy moms who are on the go, it’s sometimes easier for us to toss an endearment or command back to our children than to pause our steps, help them with their needs, or show them we care. But have you ever noticed it’s when we do something that they truly take notice?
My husband, Scott, and I love taking hikes in the woods behind our house in the White Mountains, which, if you know me at all, is kind of funny. My not-so-secret secret? I’m terrified of nature.
We may know the hymn I Surrender All and proudly sing it in church on Sunday. But do we really want to surrender all, or are there areas of our lives we are hesitant to release to God?