It's Time to Behold

Be still and know that I am God.  Psalm 46:11

It’s been a beautiful summer!  I got to completely soak in Grandma-hood and I loved every single second of it.  I will miss my full days with the fabulous Lewis  but  ready or not it’s time to begin a new school year.  We had a retreat on Tuesday we learned that the word “Behold” is always spoken before something new and amazing is about to happen in the Mass and in Scripture.  I’m looking at next Monday as “Behold Day”.  

After finishing the Covid craziness of last school year I knew I needed to find my peace and balance.  As humans we aren’t so good at that.  I spent hours rocking, stroller pushing and playing with Lewis and as I soaked it all in, the peace and joy he brought my days helped me make some discoveries. 

 * Time doesn’t slow down; you have to do the slowing.  There will always be stuff going on but stillness is
    where God can find you and bring peace. 

 * Things did get done without me.  I’ve never been very good at saying no but this summer I discovered that
    when you do, someone else says yes.

* Life comes in stages just like books come in chapters.  You’ll never get to the great ending if you don’t keep
   turning the pages and following along. 
* My screen porch is not just architecture and a lawn chair storage area…it’s for sitting, praying, rocking
   grandsons, visiting with friends and neighbor kids, writing and reading even in the middle of the day when
​   there are chores to be done. 

* The more you make time for quiet stillness, the greater the peace; the greater the peace the greater the
   contentment and with contentment comes clearer perspective, less stress a more prayerful heart and a
   happier demeanor.  Who knew!

I feel a little like I’m in  a lawn chair parked in the shallow ocean water.  Life is rolling by and changing but it’s washing over me like warm waves and a gentle breeze.  My prayer the first day of summer vacation was “God, help me be still, I’m lousy at it!”  Not only did he do what I asked, he has blessed me greatly while doing it.  Busy isn’t always a choice, but stillness is…perhaps the best choice we can make.  

A Seed To Plant:  Look at the week ahead and choose three chunks of time where you will commit to being still and quiet and pray that the Lord meets you powerfully in those moments.

Blessings on your day!