The overarching theme of my blog is intentional living. More specifically, it’s where I share my own journey to live a more intentional life, because the good Lord knows that I don’t have it all figured out yet. So, I don’t write to sound like an expert; I write as a friend who has invited you over, sits across from you at my kitchen table, and just talks about what it means to live life on purpose.
So, friend-to-friend, let me paint you a picture of what my life as a full-time, stay-at-home mama to a 4-and-a-half-year-old Little Man looks like {and, if you’re a fellow SAHM – or work from home mom – this will probably look all too familiar}:
spilled milk, Legos and Lincoln Logs, loading the washing machine, Hot Wheels cars, unloading the dishwasher, picking up clutter, paying bills, stepping on toys, clothes in washer sour {left them in too long – oops!}, The Avengers {you know… Thor, Hulk, Iron Man…}, picking up more clutter, loading the dishwasher…
My life, by the standard of most people, would seem boring… ordinary… mundane. All those words that can mean “blah”. And I wouldn’t say that I could blame them for feeling that way because, I admit, most days I’m not thrilled with my life either. I mean, I wouldn’t trade it for the world, but I don’t exactly get an adrenaline rush every time I throw a load of clothes in the washer or have to play Legos for the umpteenth time.
But as uneventful as my life may seem, there is so much beauty to be found in it… IF I know what to look for: After all, the toys that cover my floor are proof that an active, growing, creative little blessing calls this place home, too. For some reason God thought me trustworthy enough to place him in my care… and I’m so thankful!
The mountain of dirty laundry and the stacks of yet-to-be-washed dishes in the sink are proof that we have more than enough clothes to dress ourselves and more than enough food to fill our bellies. We have been blessed with more than some people dare to dream of.
This life I live may not be glamorous or impressive and I’m not likely to win any awards or receive many verbal accolades, but I am a blessed woman. And because of that, I have a choice to make: Will I join society and scoff at my life? Or will I intentionally seek out and take note of the things that make my life beautiful? Will I also actively pursue ways to cultivate beauty in my home? Through décor, sure, but also through things like: the way I arrange our dinner on the plate or how complex my son and I can build a Lego tower.
So, this is my challenge to you… to us: let’s look for and appreciate the beauty within our days and then intentionally pursue ways to cultivate even more beauty in our lives, as well. If we will do this, we’ll find that our life isn’t as boring or ordinary as we might have originally thought and that we already have more than we could ever need.
Life doesn’t get more beautiful than that!
God Bless,
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Emily here, thank you so much for sharing your heart with us, Alana! Even though I don’t have children to pick up after, I can relate to feeling like my life is mundane and blah. Your story was a blessing and encouragement to me.
What about you, readers? Can you relate? How you you find beauty in the everyday? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
