I’m honored to be guest posting today on a site I love — (in)courage. If you’ve not subscribed to that site, I highly recommend it! It’s one of my favorite sites on the internet.
Anyway, I’m over there sharing candidly about being Addicted to Adrenaline. Here’s a snippet of my post:
This past summer, we went to Arkansas for our annual vacation at the lake with all of my extended family. As is customary, the guys went and rented jet skis one afternoon.
Being the generous-hearted person I am (read: the person who would rather read a book in the cool cabin than risk life and limb doing water sports. Ahem.), I offered to stay back at the cabin with our children while my husband went out to have fun on the jet ski.
About two hours later, my sister knocked on the cabin door and said that my mom was going to watch our children so I could go down and enjoy the jet ski with my husband. While I would certainly have rather stayed put, I knew my husband would love for me to go careening around on the jet ski with him. So I took our children over to my parent’s cabin to spend time with Grandma and I headed down to the boat dock where I was told I was supposed to meet up with my husband.
There weren’t any jet skis in sight, but I figured they’d be back soon. So I sat down on the dock and waited. And waited. And waited.
Read the full post over on (in)courage.
Luba says
Thank you so much for the article. It is so meaningful in a day where people are going at such a fast rate that we don’t even live life. Thank you for the encouragement!
renee says
I’ve been reading your blog for a long time, Crystal and this is by far the most meaningful post for me. I, too, was very impacted by Jen Hatmaker’s book 7 and am not surprised you were asked to write for (in) courage. May God continue to bless you and your family!
Crystal says
Thank you so much for your kind encouragement. Thanks for joining me in this journey toward more quiet. 🙂
Elysha says
I am so encouraged for you! I know that coming face to face with our shortfalls is a very humbling and eye-opening process… and the fact that this nation glorifies busyness and productivity makes the task to sit still that much harder.
Thank you for your honesty about this. So happy for your insight!
Kristine says
Oh, how I needed to read this today! I took a ME day from work today because I am physically, emotionally and spiritually exhausted. What a great reminder to live life, not rush through it.
Amy says
I loved the article. I have to ask, though…
Is the reminder candle you mentioned the one you posted about getting at Hobby Lobby, LOL? I would say you put it to good use! 😉
Crystal says
It was… until I burned it all up (a sad day!). 🙂 But my husband surprised me with a really big WoodWick candle for my birthday to replace it, so I should be good on candles for quite some time… and it’s a good thing since I need all the reminders to be still and quiet that I can get.
Nancy says
The comments reminded me of a story I love about John Wesley’s wife (or maybe she was Charles’ wife) – Suzanne. She had 17 children and when she prayed she just sat down on the floor and put her apron over her head. The children would know not to bother her when she was doing that!
Luba says
She was their mother 🙂
Jennifer H. says
Wow. This article really spoke to me. I would really appreciate hearing more as you work through this issue in your own life. I think it’s an area where we as women and we as a culture in this country have made a good thing into a “god.” Being still may not be the thing that everybody’s talking about these days, but I think it’s something that Someone Should be talking about. Thanks for being that voice.
Liz says
What an amazing and inspiring post! We are familiar with certains idols, but I would have never thought that being an ultra-busy mom could be one. What an eye-opener! Thanks!
milkallergymom says
Thanks for the article. I am the same way.
One thing I have tried lately is to take some time to be still and pray right after I make my bed in the morning. Thankfully my bed-making habit is pretty set so right after breakfast I know I will be upstairs, away from the children, taking 5 minutes to make the bed. Now after it’s made, I plop myself down on the neatly made bed, close my eyes, and take a few minutes with the Lord…by myself, no distractions. It’s also nice to enjoy and appreciate a nicely made bed for 5 minutes. 🙂
Kadee says
This reminds me of a sermon this summer by my pastor, called “Unbusy.” He became concerned when people started saying to him “I know you are busy so I hate to bother you…” because it said to him that he was too busy to take care of the important matters, like talking with his flock face to face. He quoted someone who said being too busy is a sign of vanity (I’m busy because I’m so important and people want/need me) or laziness (I’m busy because I’m too lazy to get things in order or just say no). I personally don’t like being so busy that I don’t know where the day went. I refresh and draw energy from some quiet time. In our culture that is the equivalent of laziness, but that’s what I need to feel peace and and happiness in my life. Guess I’m not at all a type A! 🙂
Cheryl Mortensen says
What a perfect post! I just read all of it and it described me perfectly! It’s so hard to just “sit” in our world today of cell phones and technology!
Johanna @ My Home Tableau says
Such a great post! I have found the same thing. I have a difficult time simply sitting.