The Sunday Afternoon...

I have had to think deeply about my lifestyle over the last few months. I am a do-er, I like to get things done, I like to learn new things and be busy. I am not talking about busyness for the sake of busyness, but productive busy.

You will not ever find me wandering shopping centres or going to movies, my busyness is characterized by my family and home. Our garden, and the cooking of the produce takes a lot of my time and making healthy slow food meals pretty much accounts for my time on weekends.
A few weeks ago you would never find me sitting knitting in the garden amongst my chickens, you would not see me on my bed during daylight hours with a book, and you would not find me enjoying "The Sunday Afternoon Walk".
I have had to rethink how much I can actually do without something giving in. My back forced me into these types of considerations...carrying burdens that aren't mine to carry was a biggie, then trying to do too much in my home and garden, rushing (ooh rushing for all it was worth!). The rushing was the first sign that I was trying to simply DO TOO MUCH.
I have been thinking about the fact that "Life Is Not An Emergency" and that I can truly only do a couple of things WELL each day. The Lord has been speaking to me about creating MARGIN in my life to rest in Him, be still and to be present with the people I am with.
My mind is very active and I would find myself listing the things I need to do, planning next weeks schooling, looking ahead to what to plant/cook/sew/knit next and all the time watching the minutes tick by - whilst doing something with my family.

Then came the change - the day I lay on a blanket for a whole day under the boughs of an oak tree and the head knowledge moved to my heart.
Things are different now...have been for a few weeks. I can breathe a little easier knowing that I don't need to rush, life IS NOT an emergency and everything will happen in its time.