Honesty alert......

Surrender
verb    sur·ren·der    \sə-ˈren-dər\
: to give up completely or agree to forgo especially in favor of another

In order for the relationships in our lives to thrive, we have to learn to improve the weaknesses and tone down the extreme strengths of our personality…we have to break the habit of acting the way we do and then commit to working hard every day to not go back to those same habits. In doing so, we must all learn to surrender. First and foremost, to God’s authority and then to the emotional needs of those who surround us.

Just to give you some background as you read, I am mostly a chaotic lion, with melancholy bumblebee undertones and a splash of a hyper puppy.

I am a lion, hear me roar.

For me, productivity is not just a want or a desire. I have a NEED to achieve…to get things done. Therefore, the demanding baby years were very difficult…because you can’t possibly get anything done in between the cycle of feedings, changings, rockings and bathings.

I HATE to be late.

I am goal-driven, I am productive, I am successful…and if I’m not careful, I will WEAR OUT the people who surround me on my quest to achieve. I must choose to consider the needs of the others on my team, and I must pay careful attention to their energy level as we work.

 “…clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” (Colossians 3:12)

To me, sitting in bed in comfy clothes working on my ipad for a couple of uninterrupted hours has the same relaxing, energizing effect as a 2 hour nap. And, if I actually accomplish the task(s) that I started, I might as well have spent the afternoon at the spa.

I am not easily frustrated with my children  and it takes a lot for me to "need" a break BECAUSE 

I Am completely dependent on God’s peace and self-discipline.

“But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23)

Lyric watches more TV than my other two ever did....it drives me insane and I hate it but I am thankful he likes it because it is and always havs been helpful to "use" it with having three kids that were three and under when he was born. Now I have to be conscious to not over "use" his love for it and I feel convicted when I do or need to. 

My work IS my home , but my home is not as perfect as it always should be for being a job. 

I am pretty much constantly doing something and I don’t really need too much sleep. People tend to say to me, “I don’t know how you do it all!” Though I might silently think, “I don’t know how you don’t,” I respect the fact that my productivity level is both undesirable and unrealistic to most everyone else…including my family members who have to live with me.

I think the idea of posting Minimum Speed Limits is a brilliant idea. When I’m driving, I often think that people should be ticketed for driving TOO SLOW. Seriously. Do they not see the NINE cars backed up behind them?!?

I have a hard time mentally letting go of TO DO. And, I don’t have to “work” to “work.” I have a tendency to fill up pretty much all of my free time with volunteer opportunities, helping others, or taking on other creative projects and endeavors. I USE to have to be very careful to guard my schedule so that I didn't literally explode but once I had Lane I found that no matter how busy I was I would never allow any sort of work to take over my family time. And I felt CONDIDENT in the word NO!! 

“Play” is not awkward to me. When my children ask me to play with them, I do and I LOVE IT!! But when they are busy out playing together or asleep or at school.... I have to consciously resist the urge to do dishes, fold laundry, follow up on an email, etc..... When they ask me to play with Legos I literally put on music because it's just not as active as I prefer! But, I choose to engage in play because the joy and connectedness I feel with my children when we play together has a powerfully positive effect on us all. Laughter is life-giving!

Doing stuff IS play to me. And in times of stress, getting stuff done becomes an obsession, a release, a place to go where I know I will be successful.

In my life, it is true that opposites attract. My husband is just about exactly as an old golden retriever as I am a lion. Though we balance each other out so nicely, I find that it is tricky to surrender my choaotic nature and allow my husband to lead our family…in a very different way than I would. But, by choosing to offer gratitude and grace rather than criticism and control, I have a husband who is willing to help wash his work clothes, change diapers, give baths and much more…and he even makes chores fun to do together! How great is THAT?!?

I am GREAT at setting up routines and schedules, rules and consequences for my family, but I have a tendency to be rigid with them. When my golden retriever husband is not around for me to bounce ideas off of, I have a tendency to enforce rules and consequences too harshly. I must remember to think before I yell…and use my words well.

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs that it may benefit those who listen.” (Ephesians 4:29, NIV)

I can totally identify with the Little Blue Engine in “The Little Engine That Could.” I THINK I CAN do pretty much anything by myself, and most of the time, I am right. If I’m not careful, my plan can get ahead of God’s plan. And, that just tends to create chaos for everyone involved. I often repeat to myself, “Just because I can do this, it doesn’t mean I should.”

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him.” (Psalm 37:7)

Proverbs 31:26 is the verse I look to for inspiration in my day to day interactions:

“When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness.”

I am a lion. 

It feels good to be back on my blog...I was just feeling the need to roar!