I feel the pull like so many of you do.
Conferences and retreats and activities and “can’t miss” opportunities are laid out in front of us daily. I’m not from the South, but I just have to say…
Y’all, the “stuff” we could be a part of is beyond tempting and overwhelming. {I felt like a y’all was necessary there. It felt right. It brings us together.}
I have done too much in the past year. True confessions for you right there. Something I haven’t wanted to say, but it needs to be said. So many great opportunities have come my way and I have said yes to too many of them.
As far as the people and companies I have said yes to, I don’t regret my association with any of them. I love every single thing I’ve said yes to, but I do regret the too-many-yeses that have been said.
In saying yes to so many good and fun and wonderful opportunities, my attention has been pulled towards getting reviews and social media and blog posts just right. I love reviewing things, I love social media, I love blogging, but I have lots of opportunities to get those things right…at another time.
I only have one chance to get this family thing right and, even though my children are young, I know that chance is slipping away before my eyes.
I know deep in my heart that God has a place in my life for writing and sharing with you. He also has a place for my love of connecting with others.
But when He placed each of these four handsome men in my life, He entrusted me with four precious gifts and knit us together as a family. And more than anything else I may come across in my life, I want to hear “Well done” from Him in reference to the way I loved and served and shared Jesus with my family.
I want to get this family thing right more than anything.
There is no one way to “get it right,” but I know that any path toward a family well connected to God and one another involves the key element of TIME. Time that feels like it is rushing away as each and every day and week and month fill up with “stuff” on the calendar.
In all honesty, I know pretty well how to get a lot of other things “right” in life, and when we know how to do something well, we gravitate towards doing more of it. And right there is the reason I’ve said yes to so many of those things…
Family is complex and hard and I don’t REALLY know how to do it well yet. I don’t like that feeling and sometimes my flight reflex causes me to turn towards other things to feel “successful.”
But I love my family and I trust God enough to know that He put us together for a reason. And that reason is more than enough to make me start saying no more to getting other things right and saying YES to my family.
I may or may not make it to another conference this year. I won’t post here every single day. I may bow out of a few groups that I love but just can’t keep up with without sacrificing family time.
I won’t give up using my giftings or pursuing the dreams He has given me, but they will come in their proper place. And my family will be in its proper place.
And we’ll keep working TOGETHER on getting this family thing right.
There is no formula for family, but if you could use more of one thing to help you in getting this family thing right, what would it be?
Time? Patience? Love? Grace? Something else?
Just a reminder that we’ll be starting the Love Dare for Parents Summer Challenge next Monday and I’d love for you to join us! Find out all the info right here!
I'm Erin, a wife, boy mom x 3, writer, and runner in Nebraska! I'm excited to share all my favorites relating to faith, family, fashion, and fitness in this space! Enjoy! 
I’m not sure what I need more of, grace, will power, inspiration, sleep, all of the above?! I do know that I need to be better investing my time. I’ve been spending much too much time on line (and not really even doing anything, no blog posts or anything even to show for it, just time gone!). I just finished Sarah Mae’s new ebook and it was a good and needed kick in the pants.
I can identify with you feeling like you don’t know how do to this family thing. I’ve gotten to the point that I’m just ignoring what’s going on b/c I don’t know what to do with the situation. Which of course only makes the sassy girl sassier and the whiny child whinier. So, by ignoring my hole it’s now twice as deep and I still am not sure how to get out! I think I need to make a concrete goal of being more intentional and then lean into grace to make that happen.
Well, I guess that was the long answer to your question! 🙂
Praying for you, Sara, as one who knows exactly how you feel – often! Intentionality and grace – great combo!
If I could use one more thing to help me…my first reaction is TIME! (Don’t we all?) But in reality, I think I need more of Him. More communication with the One with the power who loves me more than anything.
Oh Laura, you are so spot on. HIM! He is what we all need! Thank you for posting that!
I never thought about my desire to focus on other things as a flight reaction, but that describes it perfectly. Sometimes the possibility of messing up makes me not want to try at all. Thanks for this. Beautiful words.
“The possibility of messing up makes me not want to try at all” – I know this so well, Becky! Praying we can both stay in each moment and fight and be there for our families!
Sweet…I hope we blogging moms do keep the gifts and grace in balance. Love. Yes to teal life. No to too much social media. One day at a time.
Amen, Jenn! Gifts and grace in balance – love that!
Amen!! You are so spot on, my friend. 🙂 In fact, I was asked to speak on balance and living off line at 2:1 and honestly, I will be sharing it’s just not worth it to neglect the family for the “ministry” of the blog. I’ve learned hard life lessons that way and have determined that losing page views is so worth not losing my family.
You are such a blessing and example in this, Jen. Thank you for being a voice for this kind of thinking and an encouragement to me always!
This is my constant concern and struggle. I want to be everything my family needs, and at the same time that I don’t want them to grow up thinking they are the center of the universe, you know? Such a balancing act.
I think you’d like this song my sister wrote, it totally fits with your title: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7a66gejU2A
Oh my, Felicity. That song, those words are just beautiful! Please tell your sister I LOVED it!
And I’m with you in that same struggle! It is also important for our kids to see us following the dreams God has placed in our hearts! Thanks for chiming in!
It’s easy to get caught up in the glitz and glamor of the world. We call it something it isn’t. We call it our ‘calling’ ….but what is our real calling?
I so appreciate your encouragement in this area, Rebecca! I love the example you set!