By: Jackie Brindle
Seasons of life, come in waves.
Sometimes the waves of life keep crashing down, making it hard to see when the next one is coming, let alone remember that my kid’s soccer practice was at six o’clock, and not six thirty. There are times I am so immersed into my career, kid’s schedules, living up to my own expectations, and it almost seems like each day takes on it’s own form, and the only thing that keeps it all moving forward is the grace of God.
I can usually predict a rhythm in the day like when the tide will come in and out but I can’t predict how those waves are going to affect others or myself.
For a person who strives for “perfection”, almost to a fault, makes it hard to be aware when I’m at my worst, missing the mark, not being able to meet others or my own expectations. Then I have to ask myself, why?
Why am I so frustrated and hard on myself, or why is it all about me?
There are days I can be so obsessed with meeting my own expectations and everyone else meeting them as well, that I need a tidal wave to knock me out so I can shift my perspective. Not many people would admit that, but I am sheepishly raising my hand. This pandemic ... these past few months had it's ups and downs.
Life was moving a mile a minute and then boom. It became a whole new ball game with different kinds of parenting struggles, self pity or doubt, or by comparing my life to others... which is a total trap! Unfortunately, sometimes, the only way for me to make a change and progress for the better, is to be knocked over!
The truth is, life is not about "me", that’s the bottom line.
And, you may not want to hear that either, but it’s not. Right?! (sorry I know that wave hurts.) Although, I think that would be nice, to have the world revolve around "me", think like "me", and my kids and husband could read my mind, but that’s not real life.
As I take time to reflect on what helped shift and change me for the better is learning a lot about God's grace but also empathy. These past few months slowed life down, quite a bit. It really challenged me and humbled me to take on a heart of gratitude! It also opened my eyes to not go through the motions of my day stuck in my bubble. I want to see life through God's lens for me and how He wants to use me, despite my circumstances.
I see it like this. If I don’t trip over my shoelaces and scrape my knee, then perhaps I wouldn’t pay much attention to the person who fell and scraped their knee because their shoelaces were untied. But if I experience a similar fall, I could be more aware of when someone else’s shoes aren’t tied, or help them in some capacity to prevent them from falling.
It’s easy to walk away when something doesn’t serve you or affect you. Yet, if you change your perspective by thinking about what that experience would be like, you might be more likely to help the other person because you know how it could benefit their outcome.
Empathy helps us to nudge others above the waves, through the waves, and to guide us to not get stuck in the undertow. If I lack that, then my view becomes blurred and I get too busy worrying about me that I can't see how I have the ability to help others too. How can I be used by God if I'm so focused on me? If my eyes stay fixed on .... how things aren't working out, or how my kids never listen to me, or blame others for my shortcomings and wha wha wha? Right?
I saw this quote the other day, “May my heart be softened so I can see how to love, THE ONE THING, that matters most to Jesus... people.”
I hope as I look onto the horizon, seeing another busy season ahead, with school and schedules filling up --- wave upon wave forming, I remember to keep my eyes on God first. I want to be more trusting, in that He will help me to be all I need to serve others well. You and I were made to help people in some capacity, with our God given strengths, abilities, personalities, and talents. Serving others well, has to be what matters most to God because people matter most to God.
If there’s anything that I’ve gained from this season of being home with my husband and children, it’s that time is precious, so use it wisely!
I’ve found that I need to listen more and work on being present because it shows them they truly matter. I loved having more family dinners, game nights, playing basketball games with them, and exploring the outdoors together. It's opened my eyes to see their needs clearer than before. Much like with my family, it's opened my eyes to seek how so can help others more, as well. We need each other and to extend love to one another, even if it's not a hug or to be close. Finding ways to do that wasn't always easy but always worth it!
Carving out time to serve them well, in return, served me well. Throughout this pandemic, I reached out to several people either as a check in conversation or to spark a new! It's been a blessing to have time to create connections with others through podcasting on the "Be Encouraged!" podcast and writing for this blog. In fact, what started out, as an outlet has is now forming into something greater than I could ever thought imaginable.
Serving others, praying with others, and encouraging others has helped me to be strong and courageous to push through this skyscraper of a wave, that we call a pandemic!
What's been the silver lining for you? What or who has helped you push through?
I am not saying I won’t get the wind knocked out of me a few more times, lose sight of the sun setting on the horizon, or get tossed around by the waves coming my way, but I hope that I will be able to push through them stronger than before!
I hope you and I are more equipped to charge through the “unprecedented” waves and focus on what matters most, together!
So I leave you with this charge, on the edge of the shore ready to go into another season, may you...
Be equipped in faith,
extend grace,
seek hope,
choose joy,
live with faith and not fear,
strive for unity,
pray about everything,
be humble to forgive others and yourself,
and serve others with LOVE, WELL!
This is my CHARGE!
Onward!
John 15:17 "This is my command: LOVE EACH OTHER"
Dear Heavenly Father,
I thank you for humbling me and positioning me to do your work. You are good. You are mighty. You are strong when I am weak. You are grace when I fall short. You are love when I feel shaken. You are the peace in our storms and over any wave that comes our way, You are always with me. Thank you for these truths. Thank you for opening my eyes to live with compassion and help me to serve others well.
In Jesus name,
Amen
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