A Space Between

Recently I have felt the pressures of time slipping away as my kids continue to grow, days are ever jam-packed with to-do lists and adventures, and the calendar continues to turn.  I find myself asking where time went at the end of the long but way too short days. I feel like I’m always asking myself “How is it already the end of this month?” or saying, “we’ll blink and it will be Christmas”.  It’s even more eerie that those things are all true. We all quickly get lost in the day to day, but step back to see that those moments between have quickly passed.

My position on this is when our souls are burdened we are less effective for the Lord.  The enemy can swoop in hidden amidst the to-do lists and the errands, the projects and chores, extending the long days and shortening the nights to where our souls and are bodies are exhausted and running on empty. The hardest part is that even really good things in our lives can steal away at our joy, becoming tiring and time-consuming, stealing our attention from our families, ourselves, and the Lord. Often, it isn’t until I collapse in bed at night after the house, dog, kids, and husband are all fed, cleaned and hopefully on their way to resting that I finally stop and think about all the ways I neglected my own needs during the day, and you can rest assured that history will repeat itself on the next day.  If we are that prone to neglecting our own selves,  how easy is it for us to neglect God?

I’m always searching for that space in between. That space where I can look past whatever task is at the top of my agenda and focus more on others, being compassionate to their needs.  I am always looking for that balance where I can love on others and attend to their needs and accomplish all that I desire for my family in a day without comprimising my time for the Lord or myself.  So now, my days start the same…with a goal that I am always striving to remember to slow down and not merely check things off my list for the day but to enjoy the day the Lord has created. My children won’t be this little for long, and so I frequently find myself not caring about the explosion of toys that is strewn from one end of my house to the other and just enjoy making my kids smile and soaking up memories with them. Whatever that space between is for you, whatever balance you need to find, whatever area the enemy is most prone to infiltrate, take a moment to find it… and declare that space for God’s glory and victory. Don’t continue to let time slip away lost in the motions, but rest and find joy in that space between.

Be blessed friends.