Robert Benson has said.. “Some of the things that regulate our lives are things that we can choose or change. Some are not. What is important is that we look at them from time to time and recognize which things are which, and which things can or should or might be adjusted in ways that help us balance our lives.”
Hmmm This makes me think of the serenity prayer my husband's mom handstitched for us when we were married. Have you heard of it?
"God grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change
The courage to change the things I can
And the wisdom to know the difference."
Funny. I always looked at that prayer as a marriage prayer.. after all, it was a marriage present! And then when I looked at it I thought about my husband… "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change"… you know... like having a million projects on the go, doing or seeing things much differently than me. And then my thoughts continued.. "the courage to change the things I can". Um...please don’t laugh… I really did think that! I still am just figuring it out that you can’t change your husband! But BAM It hit me quite a while later. This is REALLY REALLY about life and MY life. Not about accepting my husband but about details in day to day living.
Living a simpler life involves making choices about what is important and looking for wisdom to know what we can change and can’t. The bible says “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God who gives freely..” (James 1:5) We need to make wise choices about what is and isn't important in our life.
And in choosing we need to look for balance… we need to remember that we are making memories... what we choose will be remembered! We need to be conscious of the fact that the kids and our family aren’t going to remember our weed free gardens or our house that smelt pinesol fresh! They are going to remember that we took the time and that we love them.
So here is that question again: What are we choosing to fill our time with? Choose wisely.
I honestly made a choice and gave up on gardening this summer. I got a little obsessed and EVERY time we went outside I got distracted and started gardening… making it look good for me and really also for visitors… Really it became a bit of a pride issue. Time was slipping by and I was not focused on what was important or being balanced. The day I made the choice and gave up and focused on playing in the tree fort my 5 year old said I like you mom. This is fun. And my heart said....Yes...THESE are Memories.
