Overcomplicating Life
I can easily become a busy-body. I will ALWAYS find something to do. The idea of boredom actually drives me crazy because I feel there is always “something” to do. Am I right?
But you want to know what I tell my kiddo? IT’S GOOD TO BE BORED.
Say wha? Um, Kristin, do you REALLY think that? I often tell Mazy when she is bored, that it’s in those times of boredom, that the most creative play and work comes out. And yet I’m HORRIBLE at setting an example of that. If I were bored, I’d probably sit down and make a puzzle, but there is always laundry, texts to reply to, food to prepare, etc. And this is just where I overcomplicate life.
You’re familiar with the saying “stop and smell the roses”. But how often do we actually STOP. Then SMELL. And choose TO smell? I mean that saying is kind of complicated for someone who is a busy-body. That’s a 3-step process that I think I don’t have time for!
Kristin, are you kidding me? If I’m honest with myself, I do feel I am able to stop and enjoy the moment at times, but again, there is ALWAYS something to do. And yet in those times, I can easily overcomplicate life. This is where I have to STOP and reflect on the greatest example on how to live life – Jesus Christ.
Throughout the Bible, Jesus offers a glimpse into what it’s like to live life. We often think of how unordinary it was for him, being the Savior, but when in all reality, He set the PERFECT example on how to live day-to-day. We just refuse to think that we can live that life to. He did it all, but not all on the same day. He did it all, but with times of rest. He did it all, but savored time with His Father. He did it all, and yet spent YEARS of ministry here on this earth. It’s not like it happened all in one day.
So why do I think I need to overcomplicate life and do it ALL in one day? Stop being the busy-body, Kristin! STOP, SMELL, and find the ROSES. And you want to know who teaches me this lesson the best on this earth? My 6-year-old daughter. When I think something else is more important, she reminds me to take a step back and enjoy the moment. She reminds me to LITERALLY smell the roses.
Every morning on our drive to school, we ask ourselves, “What did God paint for us today?” So every morning, we look out the windows of our 2006 van, gaze at the sky, soaking in the colors that God painted for us through the sunrise. It has now become one of the most important, day-altering, and life-giving moments of our day. And you know what? Now Mazy sees things that I don’t even see because she STOPS. GAZES. And SOAKS in the moment. Soaks in the moments of an uncomplicated life.
I’m so thankful that God uses our kiddos to teach so many lessons! And my friend, we are never too old to learn from those around us.
The other day, Mazy wanted to go to the library to get some new books. It was around suppertime and I needed to get home and actually MAKE supper (insert crazy face emoji). She asked if she could just sit and read me a book there and I thought, ya know? Why not? Stop, and smell the roses. Don’t complicate life.
This picture (below) goes so much deeper than what one might think, but this is Mazy helping me fill my pill boxes with all of the meds I take to keep my body running. A highlight of her week, so she says, is helping put the pills in the right day. Sometimes it’s so sad for me to think that this is part of her life and that it’s something she looks forward to, but it gives me a boost knowing that even through something difficult, she can stop and smell the roses. My life can feel so complicated, yet she makes it UNcomplicated. Who knew we’d bond so much, filling pill boxes?
I can’t take the photo credit here! My niece took this picture of Mazy and it just inspires my heart every time I look at this picture. This is someone who is just STOPPING and smelling the roses/leaves. Not a care in the world, but that of laying in multi-colored leaves that represent the change of seasons. THIS is a representation of how to live life – with arms wide open, not knowing what tomorrow may bring, but enjoying the moment.
Thank you, Mazy, for teaching me so much about life. And most of all, thank YOU, my heavenly Father, for helping me STOP and smell the roses, and helping me refocus on how to live an UNcomplicated life.
Having covid has reminded me of this. I can not do a lot right now. In my boredom, I have slowed down. I rest. I read. I pray. I get fresh air. I try to make the most of my time (sometimes)
I think what’s hard is that those times can be so unexpected and we don’t know what to do when we aren’t prepared to prepare for them! Then all of a sudden we are given this slow-down time, but for me, I haven’t slowed down enough to know what that even looks like! Glad we are learning together!