Hidden Blessings of a Hectic Life

Honest moment here: the start of the new school year is exciting and it's nice getting back in the swing of things, but I am beginning to feel stretched thin.

We all know the feeling. Always something next on the to do list, waking up in the morning knowing it's going to be a long, busy day...remembering the bliss of summer when all that was on the agenda was reading a book by the pool.

A sweet friend in college helped me understand that the Lord gives us seasons. For the last couple of years, I've been given the unexpected gift of quietness and stillness... of room to breathe, create, and rest.

As I transition into this more frantic season of life, I'm challenged to find the beauty in it. I'm challenged to find peace and joy in the midst of my hectic schedule.


As I've pondered this and searched my heart, I've found myself remembering feeling this way in my college years.
But as I think back to those years, I remember a profound joy found in my busy schedule. That's when I realized, though my life may be packed right now, it is packed to the brim with things I love and that give me life.

I love my job. It can be overwhelming to try to understand and meet the needs of all my students, but I am so thankful that I get to be the one to help them. Teaching fitness can get exhausting, but it brings me such joy and it's amazing that I get to increase others' health and happiness through it. Grad school can be tedious dealing with online professors and countless discussion posts, but I remember that it makes me a better resource for students and it's not so bad. I love my church and the community and support found among the people there, anyway that I can stay involved and give my time to that is valuable. It can be hard keeping in touch with many friends and family members who live a minimum of three hours away, but the joy of lifelong relationships of being loved and known is worth it.
What I'm trying to say is, my life is full because it is full of good things. This season is an abundance of activity because there is an abundance of life in my days. The past season taught me to value rest and stillness, and this season has lessons ahead that I have no idea about.

For now as I adjust to a more hectic life, I seek and indulge in those moments of stillness.

When I'm in the kitchen taking my time cooking dinner, and I see my husband has fallen asleep reading on the couch.
When roles are reversed, and I know he's taking care of us while I can rest. 
Early in the morning like right now, when I drink my tea and enjoy the quietness and the rising sun. After hours of travel, enjoying a meal with family in the comfort of a familiar place.
On an afternoon jog in the sun, when I praise God for supplying me with strength and joy. Stillness can be found, and my heart can still be at rest. All I can do is thank God for this crazy and beautiful life, and trust in wonder that He is doing great things with my busy days that I can't yet understand.

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be the glory. -Ephesians 3:20-21

linking up with:

Mondays' Musing
Making Your Home Sing Monday
Titus 2 Tuesday
Teaching What is Good
Women with Intention
Coffee for Your Heart
Paula's No Rules Weekend Blog Party