So it begins…
As I sat down to write my annual new year’s focus I couldn’t help but feel a little astonished that this is the 3rd year I am sharing it with the OBM readers. Where does the time go!
Let me just take a moment to say thank you to everyone who reads our posts, and thank you to the other blessed momma authors, Julia and Melinda, along with our extensive list of outstanding guest writers. What a blessing it is to be a part of something so encouraging and inspiring.
Give me focus!
As many of you know from reading my previous new year’s focus posts, I don’t do new year’s resolutions any more. Instead, my husband and I try to think and pray about one particular area or characteristic our family needs to add or improve in. Once that has been identified and decided, we strive to make all decisions for the year through the lens of, “Is this going to help or hinder us in accomplishing this goal?”. I have found this to be very helpful.
Moving on to this year, it has actually been very difficult to decide what our focus should be. We have been through, what feels like, an insanely difficult year. Really, I think it is actually a culmination of several rough years. Whatever the case, life as we knew it has changed drastically, and as with all things, good or bad, there is grief in change.
I have felt unable to even comprehend writing a new blog post for the past several months which has made me incredibly thankful for re-runs and my sweet sister and sister-in-law for filling in for me. I am truly One Blessed Momma!
Consider it pure joy.. when you face trials…
As with most trials we walk through, we come out stronger on the other side. God through his infinite wisdom and matchless grace can, and will, use every situation for good, if we love him. I have spent much time in self reflection over the past few months and have found that I have allowed many things, many good things, to become idols in my own life. First and foremost I have let pride become an idol.
Pride is never spoken of highly in scripture. I know this. I grew up knowing this and I certainly never made a conscious decision to serve pride. However, I made many small decisions that led me down that path. It was extremely hard and humbling to back that train back down the track, but it brought about so much peace in knowing that we are following God’s will and drawing closer to Him. Even when you can’t see where you’re stepping, if your eyes are on Him, you will always find solid ground.
I love the quote from holocaust survivor and globally acclaimed inspirational woman, Corrie ten Boom:
“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”
Choosing our focus
With all that being said, I was really struggling with overwhelm and had begun a journey of simplifying our life by decluttering both physical things as well as our time. I cannot express the amount of stress that has been eliminated nor the amount of peace that has replaced it!
So when discussing with my husband what our family focus for 2023 should be, he suggested something along the lines of the decluttering journey we have started.
Being Intentional with our time, money and things is really what we have been working on. That just happens to include quite a bit of decluttering.
“Clutter is not just the stuff on your floor – it’s anything that stands between you and the life you want to be living.”
Effects of a decluttered life
When you free up space in your home, you have an easier task in keeping it clean. Which in turn frees up time.
When you free up time, by not only spending fewer hours being a “stuff manager”, but also by being intentional about what activities you choose to participate in, you are freeing up mental space.
When you free up mental space you can choose what you want to do with that space. One of my biggest goals was (and still is) to memorize more scripture and to help my kids to as well. I can also spend more time praying for myself, my husband, my children and friends.
Beyond those worthy goals, freeing up time and mental space gives you the ability to use and pursue the gifts and talents God has given you to serve His kingdom as well as time to ENJOY the life he has blessed you with!
Conclusion
So many times we as women wear “I’m so busy” as a badge of honor. We have been deceived ladies! It’s far more rewarding to care for the things God has put in our lives and not go looking for more.
As 2023 gets rolling, I pray that each and everyone of you sees the blessings you have and the blessing you are as you seek the truth in every aspect of your life and draw closer to the One who created you.
Meet Mollie
Mollie is a lover of Jesus above all. She loves her husband and family and enjoys gardening, teaching, piano, riding, and farming. She lives in SW Colorado with her husband and five kids.