May our hearts be changed // Nightly Good News!!

Hi friend! Welcome to today’s edition of the Nightly (Good) News!

A little background for our new NGN friends:

If you’ve been feeling worn down by the news lately, like I have been, you’re in the right place. I found that nighttime was when I was feeling especially worried and sad, and after talking to many of you, I realized I wasn’t alone.

So, I put together a brief nightly email that gives you something encouraging to read before bed. Instead of getting sucked into the spiral of terrible news, we can all focus on something positive and sleep a little better. You can click here to get these delivered to your inbox each night! I’ll also post them here on the blog the next morning.

Each letter will include a Bible verse and a few thoughts on it, plus something that’s helpful, happy, beautiful, or fun. Delivered to your inbox each weeknight!

“For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
– Galatians 6:8-10

I’ll be honest – tonight I feel a little weary.

The schoolwork, the cleaning, the laundry, the cooking, the serious lack of alone time – I’m just tired today. Do you feel that way?

It’s also strange to think that this is our life for the next full month. Here in California they even closed the hiking trails, and we don’t have a yard at all, so even our “outside time” will be looking a little less free now.

But it is my flesh that’s tired. When I consider all of the things that this quarantine takes from me (and my family), my flesh reacts in fear and anger and exhaustion.

When I think of all the things that this quarantine GIVES us, though, I’m encouraged – and my perspective is honed.

What have we been given through this time? Well, here are the things I’ve noticed so far.

• We do not have to rush around – our time is plentiful. That means that I don’t need to yell at my kids to hurry up – we’re not in a hurry for anything, are we?!
• We can focus on rest and health – getting the right amount of sleep each night because, again, we have TIME.
• We can also spend more time as a family – playing games, watching movies, etc. In fact, we’ve been watching a movie every night during dinner, because you know what? I don’t feel guilty about turning on the TV at night when we’re spending every day all day together!
• We can help our kids (and ourselves) grow in the arts. Spending more time drawing, playing music, singing, even dancing! My kids have picked up their instruments and started practicing a lot more, and even making up their own songs. It’s pretty fun to watch!
• We can get our houses organized and cleaned the way we’d like them to be. And even more – we can do this slowly. We can pay attention to when we have energy to do this, and when we need to slow down. Again, we have the time, so working slowly is really wonderful privilege here.

I think that my default, for quite a few years, has been to just get it done. Get through the list, get through the day, and get to tomorrow, when we…do it all again. I’ve been focused on production, on accomplishments, and not necessarily on the process. At least not unless I got super burned out and was forced to slow down.

But now, even though I do have a list of things I’d like to do during this time, these endless hours are forcing me to look at HOW I am walking through them. What is my attitude? What am I teaching my children through my own example? How am I serving the people right in front of me?

Also there is the matter of all of us being all up in each other’s business all the livelong day, which has brought some of my more unpleasant traits right out into the open. Nothing like being confined in close quarters to make you have some tough conversations about your own sinfulness!

I feel my perspective shifting, in a way that I am praying sticks, far beyond this quarantine. I do not think that this forced slowing down is a mistake, and I believe it is something God can use for good – in our own hearts, and in our own families.

Maybe, as we continue doing good in the only places we really can right now – our homes and our local communities – we will learn to turn our eyes toward more things of the Spirit, instead of the flesh.

The Bible promises that we will reap what we sow, if we do not give up. May we use this time to sow things of Christ, instead of just checking more boxes off our list. May our hearts be changed and our lives be different, from this point on.

Lord, even though this is a trying time for most of us, we know that you will use all things for good, for those who are called according to your purposes. Give us the strength to do YOUR good in our homes; help us use this time to draw ourselves and our people closer to you. And when we do grow weary, Lord, remind us that we are not just serving our families and our bosses and our communities, we are serving You.

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A little something encouraging…

I really loved listening to this podcast today, by Sally Clarkson. She and a few friends gave a lot of really simple, practical ideas to make the most of this time with your family, especially if you have kids.

The Podcast is called “At Home With Sally”, and the episode is called “A million ways to bring life, fun, and beauty while you’re home”. You can listen in here: https://sallyclarkson.com/podcast/2020/3/17/a-million-ways-to-bring-life-fun-beauty-while-youre-home-episode-377

 

P.S. Have you already noticed your perspective shifting in some ways? If you have a story about that to share, I’d love to hear it! Just reply to this email, and let us know if you’d be willing to let us share your story in an upcoming email! (Anonymous – or private – if you’d prefer!)