“It's not hard to decide what you want your life to be about. What's hard she said, is figuring out what you're willing to give up in order to do the things you really care about.” – Shanna Niequist BITTERSWEET
There are fundamental things I want my life to be about. At the end of the day and at the end of my time here on earth I hope that I have focused my energy, love and time on these things.
- Portraying the love of Jesus to the world that does not know him.
- Being the best wife that Aaron could ever dream of.
- Teaching/molding/loving/serving my children.
- Becoming a friend that is servant minded and selfless in their friendship.
I think that maybe our things can change throughout the years, but that's my list right there. Love people. Love my family. Love my friends. I think that sums it up. Sometimes I feel as though that list is very doable and I'm rocking it, and other times I feel as though I have a whole different list of things that don't need my attention and I'm spending more time on those things then I am on my list of things that matter to me list.
Sometimes I think it takes us saying these things outloud. What is important to me? What holds eternal value in my life right now? What am I doing that is making me a better lover of Jesus, mommy, wife and friend? Sometimes I'm starting to think that if it doesn't line up with those four things I might need to bail on it.
I'm a yes person. I love to say yes to lots of things, then I look at my week and wonder when the heck I'm gonna read to my kids, or go on a date with Aaron, or walk next door and talk to my neighbor that I'm not sure if they know Jesus or not. When am I going to do things that line up with my top four?
The tag line under the book BITTERSWEET says this …thoughts on change, grace, and learning the hard way. I think that's my stage of life now and this book could not be more fitting. I sure I hope I don't bore you in the next few weeks with all my talk of this book, but it is so good for me right now.
On a side note …. “it is good for me” is a phrase we say often around here because that is what Amos said all the time when he first came home and he liked something. If we had a meal he loved he would smile, rub his tummy and proclaim “it. is. good. for. me.” I loved it then and I will smile each time I say that phrase for the rest of my life.
Anyhow … I'm gonna work on my top four. What are your top things that you should be focusing on? You have anything you need to give up?
This was one of my FAVORITE books that I’ve read too. It challenged me in so many ways. I’ll revisit some of those things as you blog about what is challenging you in the book.
Oh Jamie, your side note about Amos made me cry. How precious a memory that is knit into your family framework now. And I love the thoughts on priorities – I needed to be reminded.