Life doesn’t fit into that neat and tidy box we expect it to. Things happen sometimes and we try to make it fit, pushing and shoving with all our might, like a puzzle piece that doesn’t belong. It might be a last minute invitation by a friend or a family member. It might sound so good. It might be something we can actually do. We might say yes and still try to squeeze every job, every errand, every commitment, every chore into our day. We might regret saying yes or we might regret not sacrificing something else because there are only 24 hours in a day(NEWSFLASH!!) and not everything fits. Sometimes, somethings have to wait until tomorrow. Sometimes it is ok to say yes. Sometimes it is equally ok to say no. I have a tendency to want to say yes to everything. Then I’m left floundering, rushing, drowning in busy. Sometimes you have to pivot (I can not say or think the word pivot without saying it like Ross Gellar). Sometimes you have to let go. My day didn’t fit into the box I wanted it to yesterday. I had to sleep in after a bad night of sleep, knowing that the extra 30 minutes would cost me my new routine of writing in the morning. I brought my notebook with me all day-but read my book instead. Later on in the afternoon, despite not having written yet, I was happy with the way time had been on my side for finishing work and the house chores I wanted to accomplish. And then my oldest son texted that he needed a ride home after practice. I tried to pivot my afternoon plan to meet a friend for a run. I started to make dinner so I wouldn’t be rushed later on. Everything seemed to be working out. And then I thought, he’s totally going to get done early and I’m going to be rushing anyway. So I called my very understanding friend and told her that after thinking and over-thinking our running time to death in the last ten minutes, I couldn’t make it happen. Sometimes you have to pivot and sometimes you have to let go. My afternoon was busy enough with drop offs and pick ups, etc that by giving myself a pass to say this doesn’t work today and to not beat myself up over it was freeing. Because I know if I pursued shoving all the things into the box they wouldn’t fit. Instead, I had a slower and simpler night. Dinner was on the table for everyone to get when they were ready, there was a clean kitchen at the end of the night, I was able to read with my youngest and watch an episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show with him, I had time to work on a puzzle, and I even had time to write.

I’m not sure where we come up with this picture for ourselves of what life is supposed to look like, because it rarely happens, and friends-it is a dangerous path to travel down. Contentment is not found in the picture perfect life. It can be found amongst all the messiness and all the broken pieces. If we wait for life to be perfect to be content, we are missing out on a whole lot because it’s never going to happen. I’m not waiting to be content until this journey to simplicity is complete. This is a life long pursuit and I’ll be pursuing contentment every step of the way.

Be careful then how you live-not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity because the days as evil. Ephesians 5:16

Our days may come to seventy years or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. If only we knew the power of your anger. Your wrath is as great as the fear that is due. Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalms 90:10-12

Dear Eternal God. I thank you for this day. I thank you for the opportunities to learn and to grow. I thank you for the people I got to spend time with and the blessing it had on my day. I thank you that you see our lives, our time, and our day and you hold it all in your hands. Thank you Lord that you go before me and that your plans are always better. I pray that you would help me to be content no matter the circumstance. I pray for anyone reading this who may be going through hard times, that you would comfort them. And I pray for anyone reading this who may not know you, that you would open their eyes to your wonders and that they would begin a relationship with you. In Jesus holy name, amen.

Special credit to my bible study friends for the box illustration. Love you ladies always!