Savoring the Slow

"I think the world today is upside down. Everybody seems to be in such a terrible rush, anxious for greater development and greater riches and so on. There is much suffering because there is so very little love in homes and in family life. We have no time for our children, we have no time for each other; there is no time to enjoy each other. In the home begins the disruption of the peace of the world."

~Mother Theresa

In case you have noticed things have been very quiet here one the blog. 

We have been enjoying a summer break chock full of rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation. 

And just learning to savor the slow. 

Yes, and I mean learning.

Slow does not come naturally to me. In fact, I am always aware of time and how much of it there is. I like to pack a punch in my days so I had to learn to sit down and breathe, look around, and take in all the blessed lovely around me. 

Am I describing you? Do you have trouble not being in the busyness of life? Do you get swallowed up by all that is around you---the demands, the schedule, the to-do lists?

"Beware the barrenness of a busy life. "
- Socrates

I have been reading this book, Savoring Slow, and even though it is not a Christian book it had some great points to learning to slowing down again and that is exactly what we have been doing. 

We have been:

reading books

putting in the garden

enjoying movie nights

going on long walks

visiting the park

spending time with extended family

rocking in my rocking chair and just "being" and thinking

taking time to smell  flowers

watching clouds roll by

catching bunnies

spending time together on some home projects

(peonies from my garden)

I recently heard a sermon on depression about the importance of taking care of yourself, since so many of us neglect doing that nowadays. Through instilling into our lifestyles:

• Rest
• Recreation
• Reduction of commitments and things in your life
• Routine
• Rethinking how we do things and looking at them
• Reprioritizing
• Refueling

I will share more on that in a future post. 

 But today I just want you to think about the things that you have been putting off.

 The things you keep saying "I'll do that when I get time". 

Don't wait to do these things--live your life now because it is a gift to you and it might not be there tomorrow. 

Tomorrow is not promised so let us stop to take the time to take a deep breath and relax. To work in some slow into our daily lives so we really feel like we are living and not just at the mercies of our hectic "schedules". To stop and really look into our children's eyes. To sing a song with them. To get off social media and take the time to just think instead. To pick some flowers. To actually pause and hear the birds chirp and to be grateful.

Grateful for another day here on earth.

I hope you will be encouraged like I am by these Bible verses on rest:

 And He said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”  Exodus 33:14

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”   Matthew 11:38-30

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."  Matthew 11:29

Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind. Ecclesiastes 4:6

"For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.” Jeremiah 31:25

Don't wait, dear friends...stop putting off life and start savoring it today. 

If you are looking for an encouraging book on this topic, I recommend this one. 

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