When My Feet Hit the Floor

It’s been a rally long time since I’ve had the time, motivation or inspiration to write. As I’ve spent some time pondering our current circumstances, I’ve realized that the title and sub themes I created for this blog years ago perfectly address the way I’m feeling now.

When My Feet Hit the Floor

“Be the kind of woman that when your feet hit the floor the devil says ‘Oh no! She’s up!”

I chose this title and quote because it motivates me everyday to get up, rise up and do something of value. Does this still apply when we are quarantined? with nowhere to go? What do we do all day? How can we still make the devil say “Oh no! She’s up!”?

Awaken. Inhale. Thrive. These three words are the sub themes I chose for my blog. These were the goals I set out to pursue and to write about. Today they provide the perfect reminder of how to handle the lingering, uncertain days of quarantine.

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INHALE: “Be in the moment.  Savor […] pause. To take a deep breath before reacting or responding.  Relax. Reset. Enjoy.” (blog excerpt)

I’m starting with INHALE first on purpose. I know – super weird – especially considering that we are currently dealing with a respiratory virus, but that’s not the kind of inhale I’m talking about. I know this time can seem scary and overwhelming, but it’s also a time that we’ve been given to take a step back, slow down, actually sit back and look at and take in – “inhale” – our little families and our people and our surroundings. We miss so many moments and opportunities to spend together – to really look each other in the eye, to sit at the table for dinner together, to really notice the way our spouse laughs or the way our kids smell when they snuggle up close. We miss pausing to enjoy a sunset or sunrise, or step outside for the sheer pleasure of feeling the sun on our skin and the breeze blow by. But no longer. I am relishing in our family walks and bike rides, family devotions and movie nights. I’ve jumped on the trampoline with my kids, painted pictures, and caught up on the Star Wars movies just because my kids are into it. We’ve spent time making birthday gifts to mail and writing real handwritten letters to family members and friends. I’m not saying all this to diminish the reality of sickness, death or job loss- because those are all real. But if we sit and dwell in negativity and let anxiety rule the day this time will be lost and wasted, and we will be none the better for it. In fact, did you know that the word “anxious” actually speaks to being out of breath? – the opposite of inhale.

“Angst is a sense of unease. Xious is the sound I make on the tenth step of a flight of stairs when my heart beats fast and I run low on oxygen […] anxious people […] people who are out of breath because of the angst of life […] Anxiety takes our breath for sure.” – Max Lucado, Anxious for Nothing

Let’s take it back. Inhale deeply and make each day of this quarantine count.

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AWAKEN: “rise up and speak up for those who can’t speak for themselves.  […] be aware and awakened to the needs of those around [us]” (blog excerpt)

Pay attention.

Pay attention to the needs around you. Protect the vulnerable. Respect those on the front line. Lend a social-distancing “hand” to a neighbor in need. Come together as a community. But also…

Pay attention to the fact that there is more to this than meets the eye. There is evil in this world and there are things always going on behind the scenes that we aren’t made aware of without digging deeply and being “awake.” I know there are a lot of “conspiracy theories” out there right now, and whether you believe one or all or none of them, I think most of us can agree there is more going on here and the future holds a lot of uncertainty. As believers, Scripture tells us: “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” (Mt. 10:16) and “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” (I Peter 5:8)

Be wise. Be vigilant. Don’t be so easily willing to lay aside your freedoms. Be ready when the time comes to raise your voice, speak up and stand up for your rights, your freedoms, and the rights and freedoms of our children and the most vulnerable among us.

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THRIVE: “[don’t] just exist […] thrive. […] grow and learn.  […] have a thriving mind and body and soul so that [you] can live life to the fullest. […] be the best [you] can be so [you] can give [yourself] fully to others and accomplish the things God has called [you] to do.” (blog excerpt)

Being confined to home with our families shouldn’t automatically put us in survival mode. I know it can feel that way sometimes. I get it. I have 4 kids; two that are now distance-learning, a toddler who is into everything, and a breastfeeding newborn with a tongue and lip tie. It’s hard, and I’m not saying it isn’t, but it doesn’t have to be survival mode. We can learn to thrive in this time. I have no magic formula, and what specific actions/schedules work for my family may not be what works for your family, but one thing I do know is that God only asks us to focus on one day at a time and to do it clinging to HIS strength and not our own. One of my favorite all-time Scriptures is found in Lamentations 3. It tells us that His mercies, lovingkindness and compassion are “new every morning. Great is [His] faithfulness.” For this reason we have hope!

Psalm 1:2-3 says this:

But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
³ He will be like a tree firmly planted by ^[b]streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its ^[c]leaf does not wither;
And ^[d]in whatever he does, he prospers.

This is a beautiful picture of thriving. When we are firmly planted and rooted in Him, when we spend time meditating on His Word, when we abide in the Life-Giver we won’t wither. We will THRIVE – in whatever circumstances we find ourselves. Sometimes we wrongly think that thriving involves being busy, but sometimes too much business causes us to thrive at nothing. We are spread so thin and so worn out and so unfocussed that nothing in our lives is truly thriving. We can use this time to slow down, focus on the things that matter, lean into our Saviour and THRIVE.

So what will you do today to make the devil say “Oh no! She’s up?” Maybe you will spend time alone in Scripture or teach you child about how Jesus died and rose for their sins. Maybe you will take a bike ride or do a long overdue workout. Maybe you will read a story or take the time to sit and let your kids ask you any question on their mind. Maybe you will just change a diaper and wash the dishes. Just remember this, investing in your family, your health and your relationship with Jesus are never a waste of time :). Doing whatever God has called you to do in this season is exactly all you should be doing. Do it well.