How to keep from yelling at Ann Voskamp
{Disclaimer: I wrote this last week, in a particularly weak moment, and was going to delete it but felt that perhaps, just perhaps, it might encourage someone today. The TRUTH did get my eyes back on Jesus and put me back on the right course. And, interestingly enough, a little e-book was birthed from all this… Enjoy!}
~
Some days I want to yell at Ann Voskamp. (And I know that’s not appropriate.)
“I’m sorry, How DO you write books and homeschool 6 kids and run a farm and clean your house and speak to thousands of people and blog every day AND take pictures of it all and STAY SANE???”
I really didn’t mean to raise my voice.
But some days I can’t breathe. Between parenting, moving, church-planting, pastoring, speaking, writing, blogging, homeschooling … Oh and then there’s cooking, cleaning, organizing.
And I’m supposed to answer my phone too? And check my email?
And my feedreader is full of blog posts from Mamas doing Christmas crafts with their kids.
I’m sorry, Christmas crafts?
My son’s birthday tomorrow will consist of a cheese pizza and Legos dumped on the dining room table. I dare say I probably won’t be posting pictures on Pinterest.
And every Publisher’s feedback has been the same: You need to build more of a platform. Get your name out there. Guest post. Tweet. Do giveaways.
Giveaways?
The only thing I want to giveaway right now is my to-do list. Does that count?
I was so encouraged a few weeks ago when I read one popular blogger say that she was taking a month-long break from writing in order to re-focus her heart and spend time with her kids. But I just clicked there again today and found 5 new posts since then, a completely new blog design, and a brand new book of hers released.
Really?
Does anyone rest?
*sigh* Oh friends, I hope you never feel like this but just in case you do, let’s remind ourselves of the truth, shall we?
Truth: God has given us exactly the right amount of seconds in our day to accomplish exactly the things He wants us to accomplish.
Truth: We all have different sized milkshakes, different capacities for getting things done. Comparison kills.
Truth: Haste makes waste. (Thank you, Ann!) Jesus never ran and was never in a hurry. He walked this earth with measured steps and calm intentionality.
Truth: Pride pushes and pulls us, driving us on, the cruelest task-master. But gentle grace leads the humble, the life of God the steady source of fuel.
Truth: We have plenty. Though I always feel like I fall short, God has given each one of us plenty for today. I must believe that.
The truth is, I love Ann and all the other phenomenally gifted women out there who are inspiring us with their photos, words, and crafts. And most days I’m happily inspired. But sometimes I must just admit how overwhelmed I feel and take a step back, a deep breath, and maybe a couple ibuprofen, and remind myself of the truth that sets me free.
Nothing is as important as your heart. So when it starts to turn bitter, sour, God must work His truth in there and fix your heart’s gaze back on Him. And while I’m sorry I vented those thoughts on you, sometimes we have to identify what the “yuck” is in order to let God wash it clean, amen?
Because I really don’t want to yell at Ann Voskamp. Or my husband, or my kids. None of us do, right? We want the life of God to fill us with His peace and give us grace for whatever’s on our plate.
One day–one breath–at a time, we must believe there’s plenty.
I pray this can encourage you as you finish your week. Thanks for reading.
P.S., It’s kind of funny timing … TOMORROW we’re doing a special giveaway (ha!) for my FIRST e-book! After all my whining, the timing just so happened that God would birth a book entitled, Plenty, and that it would come out the day after this post. Sometimes you just have to laugh. Stay tuned for:
F is for Fringe Hours
It is late as I write this. Way late. I’m a 9pm bedtime girl and let’s just say it’s not 9pm. I’m undertaking a little writing project, which is exciting to me because I love to write more than just about anything else in the world. Apparently more than sleep. But last night in a tired-moment I said to Jeff, “I don’t have time to write. It’s what I love to do but I literally do not have any free time during my days.” Of course he offered to help in a dozen different ways, but that’s not really it. It’s just that life, glorious life, is full. Full of joys and blessed busyness that I wouldn’t trade for anything. But still, full.
Then I remembered that Ann Voskamp said she wrote in the darkness, during the fringe hours of her days.
Fringe hours.
Isn’t that where the course of our life is truly determined? Most of our mid-day hours are decided for us. They are at work, changing diapers, running errands. A dozen employees in a company may look much the same from 9-5 but it is what they do during the fringe hours of the day that makes them who they are. Really, the fringe hours are the only ones that are ours, so of course they are pregnant with possibility. And especially as moms, the really fringe hours (think dark outside) are often the only ones we really have to ourselves.
So I’m thinking it’s important to invest more in the fringe.
People on the fringe. Ministry on the fringe. Moments on the fringe.
Words on the fringe.
So it’s dark and my screen is lit. My house is silent except for quiet clicking of keys. I’ll keep writing on the fringe and maybe, just maybe, all those fringes will add up into something beautiful.
Something whole.
—-
What do you do with your fringe hours? When you add them all up, what will they become?
Happy Friday. Week’s end with thanks tomorrow…
PS If you got this in your feedreader you can tell how I tired I was when I wrote this, the title was “For is Fringe Hours”… I couldn’t even type the title right! 🙂