One of my main goals when I started Treasured Tablespoons by Kelsey Nicole was to get to know you. I want to hear about your struggles and triumphs. Because we’re all in this together. We’re called to lift up one another, provide support and encouragement, fight for and cheer each other on, and above all, love hard. But sometimes, life gets in the way- intentionally or not. It becomes increasingly difficult to live out our mission for Christ and focus on the tasks He has asked of us.
So, what’s going on in your life right now? I want to know. And chances are, the list is long. Whether you’re climbing the corporate ladder, striving to support a family, submitting endless amounts of resumes, chasing kiddos around the kitchen, or busting your butt to get into your dream college, this life we live is crazy busy. I think we can all agree on that, right?
Do you feel like your daily, weekly, and monthly to-do’s are never-ending? Girl (or guy), I feel ya. As soon as I twiddle down my to-do list to a few items, it has doubled or more by the next day. Here’s a little peek into my life at the moment:
-working full-time
-going to the gym 6 days per week
-eating healthy/food prepping each week
-planning a wedding in another state
-maintaining a blog (creating, photographing, and writing new recipes)
-intentionally spending quality time with my fiancé, who lives 2 hours away (only for 2 more months- YAY!)
-keeping up with daily and weekly chores
-traveling to see family and friends
And I could keep writing because my list is endless! Sound all so familiar? I only share my daily responsibilities and tasks to remind you that you aren’t the only one trying to keep it all together.
Truth is, this sweet, and oh-so temporary season in my life right now is great. It’s full of love, celebrations, and excitement. But with that comes the endless list of to-do’s.
Talking to Blake this morning, he shared with me something that was too good not to pass onto y’all: Your to-do list does NOT define you. It is not a measure of your success, productivity, character, or who you are. Isn’t that such a relief? Part of me tends to think a long list of to-do’s means I’m not doing enough, which is a burden that weighs heavy on my shoulders. And that is so wrong. The lists will keep growin’. The to-do’s will keep comin’. That’s just life.
However, how we cope with our ever-growing list and what we decide to prioritize and focus on is critical. Here’s the important part: You can only do what you can do. That’s okay. Don’t let your running task list keep you from living out the life God has called you to live. Prioritize. Learn to say “no” when you know you can’t give something your all. The Best Yes by Lysa TerKeurst is one of the most influential and life-impacting books I’ve ever read. Lysa addresses the ever-tempting, but life-draining need to say “yes” to everything, everyone, every time. I highly recommend adding this read to your book list.
Recognizing, learning, and coming to terms with that fact that we not superwomen or supermen keeps the pressure of this broken world at bay. We cannot play “God”, and therefore, we can’t do it all, all the time. And better yet, God could care less about our “to-do’s”. Most importantly, He sees us for our character and our heart. He is only concerned with our love for Him and others. So as the to-do’s build up and distractions of this world become overwhelming, take a step back. Sometimes we need a “God check” to re-tune our heart and focus. Our daily mission is not of this world, it is of His Kingdom, which is better than anything we can imagine!
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