I scrubbed at the sticky smudge on my screen, annoyed that gloop was gunking up my phone and occluding my gaze. I tried to tally how many popsicles Grey had consumed so far this summer – and how many drips had dropped on all of my things.
He and I have been having weekly dates to the ice cream shop while Harlow goes to gymnastics practice. We are prepping them for when Grey starts “big boy school” in the fall summer and the two of them will no longer be spending all of their days attached at the hip. It has been such a treat for him to pick any topping he wants, binging on frog-shaped candy and marshmallow morsels.
Perhaps I should relocate our destination somewhere with less sugar.
What are you binging?
Still stuck on Netflix? Food? Relationships? Work? Sleep? Kids? Comparison? Negative thoughts?
Does your mind need a break?
We have become so fearful of being boring, we feel a constant need to perform and let others see that we are relevant. Now that things are opening back up, we’re realizing how much community we really lost.
Aside from the astounding death toll I’ve personally witnessed by virtue of my professional setting, the lack of physical engagement has wreaked havoc on us as a society.
Yall, a lot of us were already awkward, but now – it’s hit an all-time high.
Here’s what I mean. During an interaction, you have to consider how to ask someone about their experience during the pandemic. Do people really want to tell you about their job loss, abuse, depression, financial difficulty, loss of loved ones, or loneliness? Do they want to admit that they actually enjoyed a break from responsibility and accountability?
We’ve spent all of this time daydreaming about “getting back to normal” and now the opportunity is on the horizon. I want to challenge you to step into this new venture on purpose.
Remember in January when we did our one-word challenge? Some of the words you chose to center around this year are:
Still Rest Peace Discernment
Abide Intentional Seek Love
Stay Perspective Health Hope
We’re six months into this year. How yall doing with your words?
Here’s your reminder that you’re not perfect and we don’t expect you to be. Lucky for us, we are loved by the One who is perfect. And in us, He perfects our hearts as we spend time in his presence.
If you’ve gotten off course and are having a hard time putting one foot in front of the other to get started again, here are some strategies to get you moving.
- Listen to worship music. Music is so readily available to us now! Just go to YouTube, Spotify, AppleMusic, my music page on Salty but Sweet, KLove radio, or pop in an old tape or CD.
- Listen to sermons or teachings. This can be your church or your friend’s church. Most everyone is streaming online now or has a podcast where you can listen to the audio. Ben and I are currently listening to a series on Revelation by a church and pastor in Texas. You’re not limited by your surroundings these days.
- Read your Bible. This may be your physical Bible or apps like Dwell or Bible. There are podcasts that read to you. Grab a devotion book that will allow you to focus your reading.
- Break the binge. If you need to, delete apps or try a new one. I’m using Verse In My Heart to memorize scriptures. Follow some inspirational pages and unfollow the influencers. Sign up for daily devotions or verses of the day to be sent to your email.
- Community. Join a small group or a Sunday school class or a Bible study. Ask a friend or coworker to lunch. Schedule a playdate. Join an online community. Pick a new hobby. Plan something fun! Cook with your spouse. Go to the farmers’ market. Handwrite a letter to someone.
- Pray. Without ceasing. Pray over your meals. Pray on your commute. Pray before you go to bed. Pray before you rise. Pray in the shower. Pray while you’re on the tractor. Pray at your desk. Pray on your porch.
We are not meant to live idly or in idolatry. We were created on purpose for a purpose. Doing these things will help you get there. Let’s create new habits and new friendships in the next half of this year. Lets’ write God’s words on our hearts, on our mirrors, and in our wallets as reminders that, though this life can be salty, it’s a lot sweeter with Jesus.
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
Lamentations 3:22-24 “Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”
Matthew 19:26 “Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Psalm 37:24 “though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.”
As always, thanks for checking in while I have been on hiatus. We have been in full swing with work, “farmer camp” for Grey, gymnastics for Harlow, and family vacation. Here are a few pictures from the past couple of weeks.
Salty but Sweet 