If motherhood has taught me anything, it is that holy is not a person, place, or thing you go to.
In the busyness of mothering, what I tend to see as time with him is often short, interrupted, and fractured into portions. It’s not always easy to draw near to him or dwell with him, with undivided attention.
When Jesus stopped to spend time at the home of his friends, Martha was tending to everyone and everything—serving from the beauty of not only how she was made, but from what she was made to do. According to custom, her hospitality was a given and she was inclined to feed those in her home. It was necessary for her to care about the details. She had literal and legitimate things on her list, to do.
Like Martha, and like Jesus, we, mamas too have moments and days of steady, never ending demands, activity, and to-dos. So, maybe the matter was not actually Martha’s state of busy, but the absence of her awareness of him and her lack of attentiveness to him. [1] Luke 10:40 emphasizes that she was distracted. In her busy, she was unable to concentrate on the best thing because she was only focused on her things. Hindering her, and holding the potential to hinder our move to sit at his feet in our everyday.
But, instead by his grace, holiness is about who we hold, who we carry. It’s about who is with you and me.
We know what it is like to be bound to someone constantly and without ending, because we hold them in our arms, by the hand, and in our thoughts deeply after and as they’ve been carried—whether in our hopes, in our hearts, or in our womb.
And, so it is with the Holy Spirit. Tethered to you by the blood of Jesus. With you. Within you. Carried always wherever you are, simply being or busy.
Allowing every moment—whether it’s an attempt to read a page in his Word uninterrupted or that time you actually get to sit down to finish breakfast—the chance to still be holy. Because, it’s not about what you do, who you go to, or where you move. It’s all about who you know you are with because of who is with you. An awareness of his wraparound presence. [2]
[1] In chapter two of “The Deeply Formed Life," Rich Villodas speaks and quotes so beautifully about this thought and how it lends itself to the forming of our own rhythms.
[2] If you’ve never read it, here is a free copy of “The Practice of the Presence of God,” Brother Lawrence.
If your inbox is anything like mine, it is inundated with Prime Day and Anniversary Sale deals from almost every place on the planet. While I do not want to add to the noise, I do want to point out the one early deal I will be securing (again) because it's too good not to: this $105 Kindle Paperwhite can be used with an adult and/or kids' profiles and includes 16GB, a removable cover, 2-year warranty, and 1-year free of Amazon Kids+. My husband just received his and we're grabbing another for a gift.
My literal favorite sweatshirt is launching in 2 new colors and in an updated knit on July 13! It's lightweight comfort and reminder of who we are >
Speaking of reminders, these words are stuck on me.
Of the books I've read since June, it's these that I will not forget: River Sing Me Home and One Italian Summer. Two completely different stories, both of the hearts of mamas going literal lengths to find their children and themselves, fully.
The World Jesus Knew has been a well-welcomed addition to our inductive Bible study time and throughout all the other parts of our day. We found it at the library and, because my girls love it so much, are planning to add the series to our home library.
After dinner and over the course of a few weeks, our whole family watched the first season of Create the Escape together. Days after finishing, my littlest tapped into her creativity, made, and surprised us with a full 30-min challenge. Officially a new core memory.
That same little has a birthday coming up, and has asked for everything, including makeup (to wear, where?). I found this non-toxic, clear, and sparkly lipgloss and am looking forward to putting together a little collection of things in this pouch, along with this notepad her big sister found, that's giving compact vibes.
I finally found a large size (yes, refills!) of the best smelling hand-sanitizer I love.
And, I am looking forward to trying this recipe this week!
On our drive to San Diego last month, for a long weekend, we stopped to explore the Imperial Sand Dunes. In awe of God's hand over and over again.
A sweet gift to wake up to on my birthday. Still deciding whether or not I should spend that $1 in one place.
We take a picture like this on every beach we visit. My girls are still in disbelief of the beauty of the Pacific Ocean.
These months away from home continue to be a gift. I was able to attend the concert I missed in DC and got to see so many of our friends who moved to church plant in AZ last decade.
