"Be Still" Give-Away!

It's been over a week since I made the choice to be still.

It's been nothing short of amazing.

It took me a few days to get out of "blog" mode. I had moments with my boys where the nagging temptation to snap a photo or brainstorm clever, witty ways to document it were overwhelming. I had definitely gotten way out of balance and have enjoyed the transition of getting back into "normal mommy" mode. 

A few weeks ago I received an email requesting that I watch and review an upcoming women's short film called True Beauty, by Lisa Fran. It's a 3-part DVD series for women. It sounded like a great opportunity, so I agreed to watch the first of the three films and do a review.

I kept putting it off and putting it off. But, even during my "break," I felt the need to follow-through on what I had originally agreed to do. So, when Peanut was down for a nap, and the hubs had taken Opie to a birthday party, I decided it was time to finally watch the film. It was so quiet in the house (that was a weird feeling) and I was thankful to have a while to blog, without putting my kids or anything else on the back burner.

I went to the website and entered the private password I'd been given. And when the film began, the title 'bout knocked me back ten feet in my seat, ya'll.

It was: Be Still.

(Ooo-weeee-ooooo) Yeah, what are the chances?

Needless to say, I was pretty convinced that God had put this in my path for a reason. And it did not disappoint. I watched the film (it was about twenty minutes long) and was so convicted by I saw. 

It was a touching short film. Lisa Fran was so sincere and tackled a subject that we, as women, need to hear. Especially in this "who-can-do-the-most-and-still-have-it-all-together" society we live in. She convicted me on how I spend my time and excuses I make for why I'm not still. I loved the sweetness of how this stillness was portrayed. It was right on.

We are so busy. We are baking, cleaning, sewing, working, parenting, watching, typing, creating, blogging, exercising, etc. We've got parties to plan, cakes to make, houses to decorate, Facebook statuses to update and yet we keep making excuses as to why we can't slow down. But, in the midst of the chaos, we are being called by God, Himself, to take a breather and just be. I didn't realize that I'd been too busy to do that.

I ain't gonna lie. I still have lofty dreams of really growing this little-piece-of-me blog and touching thousands of women who are as overwhelmed and hard on themselves as I am. But, if trying to achieve greatness makes me lose out on a relationship with the One who is greater, than my dreams will be worthless.

I hate gettin' all serious on you. You know I like to laugh and hoot and holler with the best of 'em. But, this being still is not something to be taken lightly. Life is fast. Time goes by. And what is your life headed for? 

Being still is hard. It is un-natural. And staying fast-paced keeps us from having to face the things deep within our hearts. Even laughter can be a way to hide the reality of our soul. But, this week, as I have gotten back into just listening and being still, I am seeing how my mind is at ease. My thoughts aren't chaotic. I make better decisions for myself. And the need to impress and be whatever someone else is, seems to be dissipating. 

And that is such a good place to be.

PS. There is a GIVE-AWAY!! One lucky reader will win a copy of Lisa Fran's first DVD in the series, Be Still. To enter, just leave a comment on this blog post or on my Briantics Facebook page about being still. So, what are you waiting for?? Click on this link to check out the trailer of True Beauty, Be Still: 

https://flannel.org/products/true-beauty-be-still

Letter to Myself

Dear Self,

I know you mean well, but the high expectations you constantly place on me unintentionally make life seem impossible. It's daunting enough just trying to stay on top of things, but why do you make me feel like I'm always supposed to be doing more?

More crafts. More exercise. More cleaning. More home-cooked meals. More one-on-one time with my children.  More Bible time. More organization. More. More. More.

And, it's never enough.

I'm not skinny enough. Healthy enough. I don't clean enough. I'm not creative enough. Pretty enough. Fashionable enough. Spiritual enough. Disciplined enough. Nice enough. Fun enough. Hospitable enough. Smart enough. Thankful enough.

So, I try so hard to be better.

Better at saving money. Better with my time. Better at slowing down. Better at speeding up. Better at being a wife. Being a better friend. Better at household management. Being a better parent.

And just when I think I'm doing better, someone else comes along who's doing more, and again, I'm back to feeling like I'm not enough.

Why can't I just ever be enough?


Sincerely Exhausted,

 Me

Have you ever felt like you could have written the above letter? Maybe it's just me, but we all have times as women where we struggle with just feeling like we are simply enough. That we are loved and appreciated just as we are.

 There's a movie I saw years ago called, "Forces of Nature", with Ben Affleck and Sandra Bullock. In one scene, they are dancing, and Sandra starts giving Ben marriage advice, since he is headed to his wedding. One line has stuck with me after all of these years. She says to him, "No matter what annoying habits she has, just realize that she's dealing with a huge mountain of imperfections every day. So you might just want to let it go."

I loved that line! As women, we set such high expectations on ourselves and struggle with what to do when we can't live up to them.

News Flash: 

Your imperfections do not define who you are. 

They have made you who you are. 

You're enough because God made you and loves you just as you are.

You don't have to be better  or try harder for His love.

He loves you more than you ever thought possible.                           

Enough actually is enough.

Trying to be better is fine, but do it in the understanding that you are already enough. 

You are worth way more than you give yourself credit for. 

You really are. 

Sincerely,