When You Can’t Get Everything Done

I’d love for you to join me and 4 of my author and speaker friends tomorrow night for the Just Breathe online conference! Scroll the bottom for more details.

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I shuffled from room to room performing the nightly bedtime rituals. We prayed, sang songs and shared hugs. Most every one of my kids starts his or her prayer the same way. With a head rested on the pillow and toes tucked under the blanket, each voice whispers,

“Dear God, thank you for this day.”

Most nights I barely hear the familiar words as I wait for my turn to pray. But one night God used their innocent offerings to Him to unravel me. Because my heart didn’t overflow with, Thank you, God, for this day.

Instead, my heart felt heavy. Defeated. Keenly aware of everything I didn’t do. The jobs I didn’t accomplish. The calls I didn’t make. The songs I didn’t sing.

My thoughts retraced my failures and shortcomings.

Those thoughts gave way to accusations and that poison worked its way right through my thoughts and into my heart … making a heart that should be a wellspring of life a pit of discouragement.

And maybe you know what I’m talking about, except your thoughts shift towards worry and fear of the next day instead of the failures behind you.

Either way, there’s a better option. A life-filling instead of life-draining option. Two words that will change your day.

If you find yourself beginning a day, or in the middle of the day or at the end of the day and you’re discouraged, let me encourage you right now.

Instead of retracing all of the things we didn’t accomplish, let’s thank God for everything He did accomplish.

Today, instead of letting all that’s not been affect everything that will be, let’s choose to change our focus.

Instead of feeling guilty for not having a house as clean as we think it should be, let’s say thank you God for a meal shared around the table.

When we’re tempted to worry about future threats that could impact our loved ones, let’s say thank you God for the smiles that surround me today.

Instead of keeping a record book of our perceived failures and successes, let’s say thank you God for the strength to participate in Your work today.

You may notice an immediate attitude shift, or it may take relentless determination to force your thoughts into gratitude gear. But rest assured, you have permission to cease the inward assault on your soul. And not just from me … but from your Heavenly Father:

Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable–if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise–dwell on these things.” Philippians 4:8 (HCSB)

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Just Breathe online event

Are you juggling life and could use some support? Do you need a place to rest without feeling like you’re getting behind? Do you just need a few minutes to get real?

At Just Breathe you’ll hear real talk from real women about real life challenges. We’ll talk about how to:

• Set boundaries to help you manage family drama during the holidays
• Take care of yourself when time is short and demands are high
• Build support systems to help you navigate changes in life
• Create realistic expectations so you can enjoy your holiday season to the fullest
• Decorate, cook and look your best for the holidays 

As the holiday rush revs up, you handle your shopping list and let us help you handle everything else.

For more information and to register click here!