Simplicity: Called to Live Simply

It’s all across the world...especially the blogging world, yesterday was Mother’s Day. And Hubby gave me the best gift....being home with our family!

Of everything that has been happening these past two months, yesterday was perfect. In fact, the entire weekend was perfect. I put my phone aside this weekend to just focus on spending time with our family. (This isn’t just a rambling post about our boring, yet satisfying weekend...there is a point so keep reading!)

Hubby was home the ENTIRE weekend! Can you believe it? Well, actually, he was involved in an accident on Thursday (he’s okay) and was booked off by the doctor. V and I with the kids and his girlfriend headed to get Hubby that afternoon and we truly took advantage of every moment!

Thursday’s events and travels resulted in an early night, which was okay since I still worked Friday. Hubby took the morning and caught up with some friends and then picked the boys up from school. They had a blast. He spent the entire afternoon indulging them and playing. They received ice cream and sweets and were well worn out by the time I got home!

Of course, in true family fashion, Friday night meant a braai. I called it an early night when I fell asleep while getting LJ to go back to sleep (oops....)

Saturday we actually got to sleep in a little bit and then got up and busy. We, even the boys, spent the morning cleaning the house and car. We actually had a lot of fun while being silly with the vacuum and dancing like idiots. Amazingly and full of blessings, the boys fell asleep together for an afternoon nap. 

Hubby and I took full advantage and were beyond surprised when we woke up two hours later!

That evening we met up with friends to watch rugby and have another braai and again called it an early night coming home just after eight and relaxing in bed.

Sunday, we went to church and then had potjie with V and his girlfriend and another friend. We spent the whole day talking nonsense and relaxing in the yard. The boys played and ended up spending môre than an hour playing in the bath that night! It was perfect.

All of this got me thinking about how important it is to turn off sometimes and just live. Yea, it makes for a pretty boring blog post. But this weekend was unbelievable in my heart. I came to work this morning feeling refreshed (although heart sore that Hubby is leaving back to work). I laid down last night with my heart content that we’d had some awesome family time.

Proverbs 13:7 says ‘There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing; And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches.’

What does this verse say for you? For me, it tells me that not everything that is viewed on Earth is as grand as it seems but often when we seem like we have a “boring” life to the outside....we are the most fulfilled within.

If we take a look at Christ’s walk on Earth, it was simple. He surrounded himself with people whom he trusted and found confidence in. He had few possessions and went where God called him to go. Is this not similar to how God is asking us to live today?

I understand it’s hard to let go of all our possessions when we have families to take care of, and I’m not saying God is calling all of us to do that. However, this weekend with my family was lived simply. We were surrounded by people who cared about us and whom we cared about. We weren’t fussed with plans or requirements. We didn’t worry about having everything.

We went and spent time and relaxed at home....and I was happier than I have been in weeks

“And make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you.” 1 Thessalonians 4:11

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I feel this is what God is calling from my life right now. I’ve been so focused on the plans. I’ve been so focused on getting where God has asked us to go....I’ve been missing the right now. Maybe this is part of my lesson in the waiting. But for now, God is calling me to live simply. He is calling me to let go. He is calling me to just stop and be in the moment, focused on my business (my kids, my hubby, our spiritual well being) and work with my hands (play with the kids, hug them, hold them, build with them, clean the house as needed, cook dinners to better our bodies, etc.)

That is my ambition this week. To lead a quiet life with my children. I want each day to be focused around the needs of that day. I want to lie at night fulfilled because we laughed and danced and smiled and prayed. I want to let go of worrying about creating a “grand” experience for them and teach them to find joy in what we are doing at that time.

What is your ambition this week?

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XOXxx

Shana Danae..