ONE MORE IMPORTANT THING

It's been a busy summer and I just want to thank you for all checking in to see where I disappeared to. You are amazing and so encouraging! 

I was off doing things. IMPORTANT THINGS! A whole slew of little things that added up to a summer of greatness, connection and rest. Things that one by one filled my time and in honesty I chose to take  a hiatus from writing.

Camping...  smores.. hiking... building sand castles...biking... reading...watching sunsets...visiting... gazing at the twinkly lights on my patio as the day faded into night and planning and running a day camp took up the hours in my day.. one by one by one. You and I both know the power of one thing!  If you haven't read it, please take a minute. It's actually my ONE favourite post: 

http://www.catherinegillard.com/blog/the-power-ofone

 All our ones add up. Sometimes they add up to hope. Sometimes they add up to rest. In my past I could let all kinds of choosing of  IMPORTANT THINGS add up to  exhaustion and burn out. 

I recently heard God speak into my heart: "Do more important things".

You can hear that wrong.  If you put the emphasis on MORE IMPORTANT you will feel you need to constantly skip the things that don't "matter" and focus on what's "best".   

I did that for a long time. I don't know about you.. but I sometimes ran myself ragged in MY  MIND just trying to determine what's top priority to me or others and how to get all the IMPORTANT things done. 

I remember one day watching my kids play in the snow and really realizing that though they were JUST IN THAT MOMENT ENJOYING IT... I was not. I was worrying about my to do list and if I could get it all done and if I should get on to something else.  And  though I was truly concerned about time and conscious to not waste it away...I wasn't adding any moments to my day. I was stealing them away with my worries. It was just like that wise word  "Who of you by worrying can add any hours to your day?"

So hear me right. I want you to put the emphasis on IMPORTANT. Because that's how I heard it. It's NOT about worrying yourself sick you are doing all the right things, or the proper things to please others, or the top things to get you ahead quicker, or ANY of that. 

Its about making lists and prioritizing but also about rethinking the things I thought were IMPORTANT. It's about choices that lead to open spaces, and memories and rest. This fresh word for me is about SEEING restful, connecting, adventuring things as IMPORTANT too. Seeing that the joy I felt in that sunset WAS important. Understanding that playing in the sand with my kids-- WAS important. That spending time to rest and hear his voice and slow right down could be, should be and WOULD be for me: IMPORTANT. Each moment is important and I need to value time. But I need to value the time I'm in right then and there too. It's IMPORTANT. 

So here's my "importance manifesto". I'm going to value doing life changing things, choosing and planning what's a priority and be productive, but I'm going to value all the moments in between. I'm going to see my trip to the grocery store as IMPORTANT. My bike hike into town as IMPORTANT. My looking RIGHT DEEP AS I CAN into the eyes of someone in that moment as IMPORTANT.  I'm going to make my list and get those VERY important things done but you know what else? That space and time and all the in between? It's my manifesto that by golly it's going to made to be important too.

I'm suddenly back on this important adventure of life in a way I remember vividly in my 20s --back when I first understood HIS love for me and HIS favor for me and HIS plans for me after my first husband left and God wrote HIS LOVE STORY ON MY HEART. It was like I died inside and then found life again as I saw his blessings and love. And treasured it in my heart. I think this summer of rest and that fresh word brought that adventurer in me back alive again.

You see, time is a gift. Suddenly I see it clear again. It's a GIFT. It's made for important things but its also made for truly seeing that all things I get to do, see and feel are important too.

So what do you say? Are you in? Join me and let's let him do more than we could ask or imagine as the moments add up.​ Let's be READY to see and not miss what ONE MORE IMPORTANT THING might be in store for us when we are really present in that ONE MORE IMPORTANT MOMENT. I think we are going to be amazed what opportunities suddenly aren't missed.
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Be blessed. You are loved. You matter. And HIS plans for you ARE good.

PS: I am so glad to be back, friend!! I missed you! Here's a picture of what I CHOOSE to make important- my peeps- on an important adventure into a little town that led to meeting people, picking up stones, sitting on rocks and reflecting on the beautiful hand of our creator.