So I have been thinking about a few different things that I wanted to share this month but it hit me today that they all have a common thread running through them. That thread is peace.
The last few weeks I have been torn between holding fast to peace in order to preserve what was what I believed to be worth more or allowing anxiety to take hold and attempt to be more productive (on paper anyway). With the season upon us it seems to be crunch time. Finding ways to build extra time in for worship and reflection, time for fun activities with the kids to celebrate the season, a Christmas play with many rehearsals, 7 shows and participation in a city parade, weeks of battling a strep infection that didn't respond to the first round of antibiotics only to try another, trying to keep a somewhat normal school week, planning gifts, time with friend and family, a washing machine that broke down but is now repaired, keeping the house clean, exercise, decorations, and a myriad of other things.
I happened to see a saying a few weeks ago reportedly said by Lao Tzu. It says this:
If you are depressed you are living in the past.
If you are anxious you are living in the future.
If you are at peace, you are living in the present.
Now did this person really exist? I don't know I didn't look it up. Did they really say this? I don't know that either. But I do know it holds truth and it was helpful to me.
So this month I chose peace and things that mattered on an everlasting level. What does that mean? For me it meant that when I woke up my kids in the morning and they stretched out their arms instead of just hugging them I hopped into the bed and snuggled them instead.
It meant making sure that even when we were running late in the mornings we spent an hour outside riding bikes and enjoying the nice weather instead of cutting our time short to stay on schedule.
In our house Bible class/ Worship is always the first thing on our list of things me must do but making sure that we celebrated the season of Advent and did a craft or something fun seemed a whole lot more important than rushing to the end of the days finish line.
Being at peace meant that I had to stop comparing my day to that of other peoples, it meant that I was accepting of the fact that some mornings I sleep in late so I can be refreshed after a long night of being awake with a child. Although I prefer getting up early so I can have my coffee with my husband before he goes to work. It also meant that some days our school day ended at 5:00 so that we could do all these things and get our work done with a mother who was calm, kind, patient, and enjoyed our time together.
Some days it even meant forgoing our evening cleaning of the house so that we could all snuggle up on the couch and watch a Christmas movie.
So as the month winds down and the time crunches forward I must continually remind myself to seek peace and everlasting good above rushing to the finish line and missing out on the gifts and blessings this season has in store for our family if we are willing to be open to them.
As chance would have it, I was looking for something to watch today and I stumbled upon a documentary( yes, I like those) titled " Delicious Peace Grows in a Ugandan Coffee Bean" Delicious- I'm in, Peace- Score- tis the season, and Coffee- Hello! I had to watch this. About 10 minutes in I decided it was good enough to put on hold and wait for my husband to watch with me. We both agreed it was excellent. The synopsis is this: A Jew, a Christian, and a Muslim ( no this is not a joke) are able to bring peace in their country of Uganda by working together as coffee farmers and then spread that peace to their neighbors. Now as a Christian in the midst of Advent how can I not appreciate peace among men? For that matter, as a human solely, regardless of religion how can you not appreciate that?
If you would like to find out more please visit their site where you can not only learn their story but also find out how to buy their coffee( Mirembe Kawomera which means delicious peace) at http://www.mirembekawomera.com/
The movie, which is only 40 minutes long, is also available on HULU.com for free for standard online users.
Inspired by the documentary I am setting a few goals for my self this season. Ways in which our family can spread peace in our own community while still respecting the individuality of our neighbors. It may be as simple as making cookies for a few people in the neighborhood, raking up some leaves, shoveling some snow, or leaving a small note or token of appreciation for your mail carrier or refuse collector, but I challenge you to spread peace among your neighbors this season. If a few Ugandan peasant farmers can impact the world, think how much we all can, if we try.....
And so as the months end is drawing nearer, and I doubt my ability to post again before Christmas, I wish you all a Merry Christmas filled with the Peace our Savior brings.
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests. Luke 2:14
For those of you who read this and are not of Christian faith I wish peace for you also this season.
See you all next year!!!!!!!!!!!!!
