I haven’t posted any goals in weeks.
I haven’t finished my home management binder.
I haven’t made my blogging video yet.
I haven’t read a book in a few weeks (besides kid books…and they don’t count!)
I haven’t gone running since last week.
I haven’t slept for more than 5 hours straight in weeks.
I haven’t lost the 5 lbs. I planned to lose by the end of the month (I think I’ve gained!)
I haven’t been out of the house in days…
I haven’t, I haven’t, I haven’t.
But you know what I have done?
I have cuddled with my oldest daughter as she fought several illnesses over the last two weeks.
I have cared for my youngest daughter as she struggled with vomiting and fever this week. Her birthday party had to be canceled because of it. 🙁
I have cared for my middle daughter with her recurring fever.
I have tended to my husband as he is running a fever today — and he never gets sick.
I have made meals.
I have cleaned the house (Lysol is my friend!).
I have watched my niece.
I have done the laundry.
I have cried buckets of tears because our sweet dog is slowly slipping away.
I have pondered quietly the death of my dad eight years ago this month.
I have prayed for strength to get through these weeks.
I have cried out for mercy time and time again.
I have, I have, I have.
You see, in the midst of all the things I haven’t done, I’m striving to be faithful to do what needs to be done most. They are small, everyday things — somewhat mundane — but important, nonetheless. To take care of my family — to be available to them and keep this house running! And mostly, to listen to the still, small Voice who whispers my name and carries me…loving me through all my imperfection.
As much as I hate “failing” in the goals I’ve set for myself, I realize that life happens. And grace prevails.
You and I cannot be perfect. We cannot meet every goal we set. And it’s okay.
We all have different amounts of energy, different priorities, different callings. And life throws different events our way every single day.
But here’s what we can do:
Embrace where we are, make our goals, fail at some, succeed at some, and do the very best with the time we’ve been given.
And if you don’t see any goals from me again for a few weeks, just know I’ve probably fallen to this illness swirling around our house….
That was so encouraging. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Nicole! 🙂
This hit the spot today, because you see, I’ve had a monster of a week and your words of encouragement and “been there, done that” have literally brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for reminding me that “I’m striving to be faithful to do what needs to be done most.” Even when sick myself, and cleaning up my daughter’s flu-fever-induced vomit while fighting a fever myself, God helped me manage.
I’m sorry, Shannon….it’s so hard sometimes. Here’s to a new week!!
Beautifully put. A wonderful reminder that grace wins…and sometimes we need to extend some to ourselves…
I am so thankful for Grace!
This is a great post. It is so easy to get frustrated and down on ourselves when we cannot accomplish our goals, even when it’s because we needed to tend to something or someone more important. Thank you so much for your encouraging words.
Thanks, Mona! It’s been one of those weeks…or maybe one of those months!
Thanks for sharing. We had two weeks like that just before Christmas. Everyone in our household, from 1 to 92, literally, was sick and on antibiotics! (We care for my 92 year-old mother-in-law and our son and daughter-in-law and 3 little girls are living with us temporarily.) I wish I had more of your perspective during that time.
Well….I’m trying. Not that I’m doing perfectly by any means!
It sounds like you have a full house — hope you don’t have any more weeks like that soon! Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I love finding out more about people who read my blog!
Grace to you.
Thanks for being so open about your struggles (and victories)!!
Thanks, Shelli! Hope you are doing well!
As a library science graduate student I have to disagree with your fourth point: kids books totally count! (Especially if they are the Narnia series, The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper, the Hunger Games trilogy, or any of the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder — just a few of my favorites).
Also, I just set general goals, and then 3 “most important tasks” to complete each day. More than 3 a day becomes extremely cumbersome and frustrating. I think the 3 “MITs” idea is from Leo Babauta’s blog, zen habits, but I can’t remember for sure where I heard of it. Works great though.
Ha, ha, Lynn! I meant all the thousand picture books I’ve read over the past few weeks….instead of picking “my own” reading!! True…I enjoyed The Hunger Games and Narnia and Little House books, but they are a little more exciting than Dr. Seuss (not that I don’t love Dr. Seuss….I just wanted to read something for me!) 😉
AND Stacie. What an amazing example of focusing on what was actually important.
I write a Motivated Monday every week and wrote today about how I have lacked living with purpose for being focused on what I was doing while it was important.
Sometimes it’s so hard to remember what our primary roles are without feeling like a failure in others.
That’s so true! I just was feeling like I haven’t read much this week, but we are reading aloud to the kids Chronicles of Narnia so I decided that totally counts. : ) Love the imagery.
I was given a link to your blog post from a post at Baby Center, and it totally made me tear up. You are an amazing mom with a wonderful outlook. Hope life around your house improves soon.
Awww! Thanks so much, Kelly! How fun that you found the link on Babycenter! Things have improved this week, thankfully — but I’m still not quite caught up! 😉
My facebook status yesterday was….”There is more power in sharing our weaknesses than our strengths.” It came from that book you gave me and it’s been eye opening.
Thank you so much for sharing and being real. It’s so refreshing and really helps other women see they don’t have to be everything and do everything.
Thanks for this! This is just exactly what I needed to hear this week, as I’ve been mulling over my own “I haven’ts”.
Hope you get to enjoy a few more cuddles with the kids this week, except illness-free, this time around!