Joy in the Mundane

Headband by: The Sassy Olive

Routines: we all start getting into a rhythm of them as kids, right? I still remember my middle and high school 'getting ready' routine, which all began with my dad turning on the night light in my fish tank. I would hear the 'click,' and immediately open my eyes. That routine changed and shifted as I graduated, went to college, and now as a full-time mom and teacher. Life looks a lot different then it did when I was I was younger, but my new daily routines pretty much stay the same, day after day, month after month.

During the week, I have two alarms set on my phone. I press snooze on them both, staying in bed way too long. I go into our bathroom, our black cat follows, I close the door, and I do all my 'getting ready' steps. In my classroom, my students repeat the same norms and procedures every single morning. We stand behind our chairs, fix our posture and recite:

Be respectful.
Ignore negative behavior.
Follow directions the first time asked....

My toddlers too, have a pretty standard rhythm of life--breakfast, play time, snack, more play time, lunch, nap... Their bedtime routines are the same; they always want their favorite blankets, Lion and baby doll. They know the schedule and that's what they thrive on. I know you have your own rhythms of life too. Maybe you're a morning person (uggg) and you wake at the same time each day; drink your coffee and catch up on the news (or get in the Word!) Perhaps you prefer to get a workout in before your job begins. Or maybe you come home straight from work, change clothes and head to the gym? Whatever it is, however your average day appears, does it ever get boring?  

Lara Casey said, "When we work heartily for the Lord, the mundane becomes meaningful, and the bigger tasks are given greater energy and focus.” Lately, I have been struggling with sorting my thoughts and organizing them into creating purpose. I know God has gifted me with several attributes, but where does He want me to START? Lara also said, "“Do one thing at a time. Do it well. Or just get it done. Done is better than perfect, and doing one thing well is better than doing a thousand mediocre things.” 

I tend to get wrapped up in my head (and heart). I feel things deeply: words, emotions, thoughts, comments, conversations. A few days ago I visited the gym and as I was stretching, I caught my own eye in the full-length mirror. I was in a complete and utter haze. I didn't know what I was thinking, I felt sad and blue and blah and then I thought, "Ashley, just pray." I headed to the treadmill where I ran a very slow two miles, and began:

Jesus, I don't even know what I'm thinking. I feel so disorganized, so muddled. Please give me peace, help me to find joy that only You can bring. Give me the strength to keep putting my feet forward, help me to radiate You, wherever I go.  

And then throughout the weekend, I continued that prayer. Our weekend consisted of our normal routines and followed the same structure as it normally does. As much as I love my children, I deeply cherish their nap and bedtimes. During their rest, I painted a desk, read more of Make it Happen, journaled, and just prayed. Here I am, at the beginning of my work week, and I promise myself today to find joy in the mundane. There is purpose in even the smallest tasks, and I am confident that the Lord will be at work through them. I don't even think twice when I wash my hands throughout the day, but for my daughter, it's one of her biggest delights! 

 What type of energy are you going to radiate today? My Monday will be a fairly typical one. Our kids will eat dinner around six-thirty, have their baths, and be in their beds around 7:30pm. At the end of the day, I won't have climbed a mountain or watched a beautiful sunset from the white sands of a beach. I won't have published a book or produced a record smashing album. But I'll have taught and loved my students well. I will have hugged my children tightly and have tried to encourage the adults in my life in any ways that I can.

I'll still have lots of thoughts in my head, but I pray that I will continue giving them to the God who made me. One step at a time, day by day, and I think He'll make it more and more clear the radical that He has planned for my life. Not that being mom, teacher, wife, (insert a hundred more titles here) are small tasks--they're not. And yours aren't either. Instead of getting caught up in the haze of each one, I encourage you to fulfill your duties with zeal and heart.

How are you today, friends? What are the first five things that pop into your head as you've finished reading this? What is on your to-do list today or for this week? Are there tasks in your life that are starting to feel mundane or ordinary? Send me an e-mail, comment below and let me know how I can pray for you this week!

How Are You?

How many people do you pass by a day? Stop for a moment and think about those who surround you. You're at your workplace, brushing someone's shoulder in the hallway. Who are they? You're at your desk, co-workers are in your building, people are surrounding you, everywhere. Who do 'they' consist of? You go into Kroger and you say, "Pardon me," to the gal who nearly plummeted into your cart--who was she? You're a daughter or a son, a wife or husband, mom or dad; who do you come home to? Do you have family in town? Do you communicate often? Is your family living long distance from you, perhaps many miles away? How are they doing? 

Stop and pause. 
Close your eyes. 
 

Your top five friends. Who are they? How are they? Okay, now close your eyes again. Take a deep breath and count with me to ten. Open them. And now I want to know: 

How are YOU? 

When is the last time you were asked this question? Did you think to yourself, "I can't tell you. You wouldn't get it. My struggles are different from yours. You and I are complete opposites." So you probably responded with, "I'm good!" and hurried right along. But do you have someone, who when they ask this question, the sometimes dreaded three words, how are you, that you can honestly answer, not just with a socially acceptable one? 

While I was journaling tonight, what I continued to come back around to was this very question. And honestly? For the first time in a VERY long time, I was able to write that I am doing WELL. And even more honestly, that felt wrong to admit! How can I be doing 'good' when others are suffering? Surely something has to be wrong in my life? There has to be something wrong!

But you know what? My husband and I are HAPPY; we've been married for seven and a half years and let me tell you, the last two years have consisted of a lot of healing and reconciliation for us. Praise God, right!!? My kids are healthy and happy. Don't get me wrong, they are EXHAUSTING; but they're two and three and what kid isn't tiring? I have experienced a lot of growth in the last year. I've set boundaries in my heart and personal life from certain relationships because I *finally* listened to God's voice. I've said a lot more "no's" and a lot less "I'm sorry's," and this is OKAY because my Creator has given me direction. I've set huge goals and am at the beginning stages of living a life of purpose, and well?? 

I'm realizing that it is OKAY for this to be a season of goodness. 

But do you know what I think is so important? Honesty. Be real with someone in your life today. Can you? And if things are going well for you, share that goodness and encourage someone else. And if your friend answers YOU honestly, and maybe shares about the sadness or stresses in their life, listen! I may be completely different from you, have dreams that you think you can't relate to, be working a career that you can't understand; but I promise, God created us to have fellowship with one another, no matter our differences. And do you want to know what else? I sincerely want to know how you are! 

Are you struggling with anything today? Are you chasing perfect and wishing that life would just slow down? Are you filling your mind with guilt, comparison, or deeming yourself unworthy? 

One thing you need to know about me is that I am far from perfect. Above, when I said that things in my life are going well, didn't mean that life was going perfectly. Do I struggle with stress? Yes. Do I tend to be neurotic? Yep. Do I drink enough water? Never. Do I exercise as often as I think I "should?" Nope. Do I doubt my friendships, my relationships, my ability to be a mother and wife? Often, yes. But I can finally say with confidence that in this season, I am finding more to be positive about then negative, and this is HUGE for me. 

So again, how are you? 

And if you don't feel comfortable commenting below, shoot me an e-mail. How can I pray for you? In what ways can I encourage you? How can I be a friend, a listening ear, for you in your current season? Do you have praises that you need someone to rejoice with you over?! Maybe you need a virtual CONGRATULATIONS. Whatever you are thinking, right now, after reading this post, I pray that you will give it to God and share it with someone today. 

Thank you for walking with me, friends! And thank you for being YOU, because no matter what, YOU are great.