Last Updated on February 15, 2024 by Stacy Averette
“This job has been given to me to do. Therefore, it is a gift. Therefore, it is a privilege. Therefore, it is an offering I may make to God. Therefore, it is to be done gladly, if it is done for Him. Here, not somewhere else, I may learn God’s way. In this job, not in some other, God looks for faithfulness.”
―
He almost always gets up before me.
Soon I, too, slip out of bed, happy to feel the warm carpet beneath my feet on this chilly November morning. I push my arms into a cozy sweater over my pajamas. The toasty smell of coffee greets me as I open the bedroom door and walk slowly down the hall toward the kitchen.
Around the corner I see him sitting in his usual chair in shorts and a tshirt, with earbuds in, listening to the Bible. A steaming cup sits on the side table and he cheerily waves both arms in the air at me as if he hasn’t seen me in months.
He’s a goof ball. But I never tire of his silly greetings.
Today is different though. He’s also wearing the dark charcoal colored “country gentelman’s hat” he found in my thrifted, vintage hat collection yesterday. He was helping me do some redecorranging and was pleasantly surprised to find a hat that fit his big head. Seriously. He has a hard time finding a hat that fits. He’s sits there in his mismatched “pajamas” and gentleman’s hat. He has the joy of a kid on Christmas morning on this ordinary Wednesday.
I smile a sleepy smile and step onto the cold kitchen floor happy to pour myself a warm cup of coffee and a glass of water. A comforting routine.
We sit there together, just the two of us, sipping, listening, occassionally sharing a phrase or idea that speaks life. We talk about what’s on our mind and the day ahead.
While he showers I set up the ironing board and iron in the laundry room, feed the cat, and sip on my coffee. Norah Jones serenades me today.
Ironing is holy work. I take my time, enjoy the process. Yes, he can iron his own shirt and often does so but it’s one of the ways I can make his morning easier and less hurried.
She works with eager hands
Proverbs 31:13
I make the bed, get dressed, and think about dinner prep. Last night I made a double portion of one of our favorite meals, Spicy Thai Peanut Ramen, so there’s plenty leftover for tonight. Eric and I have been following a plant-based diet for months. If you click on the recipe link don’t let the word “vegan” scare you. You can definitely substitute animal based products (milk and broth) but it’s delicious “as is”! Our whole family loves it! Make sure you buy “Japanese style Ramen Noodles” in the Asian food section (Walmart) instead of the individually packed ramen. They’re so much better!
Caleb mentioned lasagna earlier in the week so I bought the ingredients yesterday. I’ll make it this morning and have it in the refrigerator ready for cooking tonight. Eric and I will be at the office this evening as usual, so Caleb will cook it when he gets home. I called Maddie and asked about their supper plans tonight. They might come over for lasagna. Click here to get The Best Lasagna Ever recipe!
I’m still washing tablecloths from the wedding. I can only wash three at a time and have to dry them one by one. I suppose I could’ve gone to the laundromat and washed them in one or two loads in those giant machines but I’d rather stay home. There’s no rush to get them done and I can do other tasks around the house while they wash and dry.
I’m getting read to host our annual Family Sleep Over (AKA Thanksgiving) so I’m tidying up guest rooms and thinking of how much fun we’ll have eating and talking and playing games. I’ll read a bit throughout the day and watch Father Brown on Netflix while eat lunch.
“One reason we are so harried and hurried is that we make yesterday and tomorrow our business, when all that legitimately concerns us is today. If we really have too much to do, there are some items on the agenda which God did not put there. Let us submit the list to Him and ask Him to indicate which items we must delete. There is always time to do the will of God. If we are too busy to do that, we are too busy.”
―
Slow and Steady
I like a slow and steady life.
Dallas Willard said, “You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry.”
I like that and I try to live by it.
For years, I lived hurried and frantic. I said “yes” to too many invitations. I took on too many responsibilities. Often I was trying to make or keep someone happy. Doing and doing more was also my way of feeling good about myself and proving my worth to others. I found out the hard way that unless others value YOU, you’ll never be able to DO enough to make them happy.
God helped me see that my self-worth was entangled in my performance and I was doing things that He never asked or required of me. Furthermore, I wasn’t doing anything well and I certainly wasn’t doing it to the glory of God.
“The will of God is not something you add to your life. It’s a course you choose. You either line yourself up with the Son of God…or you capitulate to the principle which governs the rest of the world.”
―Sometimes I still feel pressured to do more, be more, achieve more. May be you do, too. Our days are long and filled to the brim with lots of different tasks but we can be confident and at peace with where we are believeing that God will provide and guide our steps as He’s always done.
Our lives and choices may not always make sense to everyone else and I’m learning more and more every day to be okay with that. I hope you are, too.
Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10
You can find the books I referenced via quotes by clicking on the links below. (These are affiliate links so if you click and purchase I will be compensated with a small percentage by the Amazon Affiliates program but there will be no extra cost added to your purchase.)
- Dallas Willard quote is from, Soul Keeping: Caring for the Most Important Part of You, by John Ortberg
