Walking through my house is a bit like a maze these days. The perimeter is stacked with boxes and bins. Furniture is out of place and chaos reigns. Just looking at the disorder causes my heart to race and palms to sweat. My rhythm and sanity only comes because I remind myself to breathe.
They say that moving is just a box away or maybe that’s what I say. The process of decluttering is a rhythm all unto itself. It creates a sense of fulfillment one day and utter despair the next. This is my life right now. But in the highs and lows that come with letting go of the past as well as reaching toward the future, satisfaction reigns. I find it only comes in the deep inhale and exhale. It comes when I breathe deeply.
Moving and all it entails parallels life. We pack and unpack truths and lies about ourselves. We box up our emotions. Parts of our lives remain compartmentalized in order that the past doesn’t mix with the future. As life ebbs and flows we discover who we are in the connection of our past with our future. Our striving ends when we allow God to mix the two together with His grace and redemption. Empty boxes no longer remain unpacked. Instead, God reconciles the pieces of our life and weaves them together into His beautiful whole. Now we can embrace the courage to put the lids on parts of our lives and open up other boxes with anticipation.
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The past few weeks sped by in a blur and somehow I am here in this place now, which is further than where I was yesterday. God is good to bring us to where we need to be. His gentle nudging moves us forward to the place where our story meets His. All I know as I see the boxes surrounding me is that God got me here and will continue to lead me to what’s next. His answer as I sit gingerly stretching every tired, sore muscles is to breathe.
God flows in during the rhythm of each inhale. He lives and moves to fill us with everything we need. Our exhale does not rid of us God, but becomes the praise we form by being loved deeply.
Yesterday as I ran one more errand, God showed me that when I embrace the chaos, He shows up. When I create space for peace, He makes room for it even when disorder threatens to overtake me. My schedule yesterday would have made the most expert taskmaster’s head spin, but one drive in a truck changed my outlook.
Embrace your place.
Let God do what He does best.
Hold onto God when chaos reigns, but let go when He says “now”.
But most of all, just breathe!
On this Sabbath day, let’s breathe our praise to God.
I bless God every chance I get;
my lungs expand with his praise.I live and breathe God;
if things aren’t going well, hear this and be happy:
Join me in spreading the news
together let’s get the word out. Psalm 34:1-3 MSG
Sabbath Blessings!
You are really doing it! And, truck driver? You’re the best looking one on the road!!! #truckdiva
Yes I am! And truck driving diva sounds pretty good. I’ll have to tell you sometime how much I loved driving that truck.
Beautiful words and picture, my friend. I didn’t know you were moving. I hope it’s not far away! LOVE this: “Embrace your place. Let God do what He does best.” Such important advice, Mary. Thank you! I hope you are already settling into your new space :).
I’m so glad you stopped by, Candace! God is so good to give me this chance for new beginnings as I seek to keep refining my purpose in Him.
“God is good to bring us where we need to be.”
Such good words for me in this season.
Thank you, Mary.
Amen! Even though I fight where God brings me at times, He leaves such beautiful blessings if we just allow ourselves to see them. I’m praying for you Michele as we wrap up this Mother’s day weekend.
I hope the best for you with the selling of your condo and moving into a new one, Mary. Moving can be so hectic. I love your analogy of it with life. I’m so grateful that “God reconciles the pieces of our life and weaves them together into His beautiful whole.” Your photo is so beautiful. You are beautiful inside and out! Love and hugs to you!
Thank you Trudy! You always know the right things to say. Moving does mirror life in many ways. I love how God provides life lessons in the ordinary. Thank you for the nice compliment on my photo. You are so sweet. I pray you had a wonderful Mother’s day weekend!
Hi Mary! Moving is a big deal, I know that. But it can also be the way to put a lid on some things in the past, and open new boxes of adventure. I hope that’s what your move will bring you.
I didn’t know your plans either, so it was nice to read your response to Linda. May God guide your hands and heart as you contemplate a change of living space, and maybe start you on a new road of love and joy in a new place!
Blessings,
Ceil
It has been a journey of memories, decluttering, emotions surfacing and all sorts of things. But it has been oddly freeing too.
I am looking forward to new beginnings and the chance to let God lead me to new possibilities. It feels like it has been a long time coming but in God’s eyes He planned it to look just like this. Please join me in prayer for God’s perfect timing in selling my place before it is time for me to move into my new place. So glad to have you along as I transition again.
“I live and breathe God;
if things aren’t going well, hear this and be happy:” God’s words always can bring us joy even in the chaos! Thanks for sharing that verse. And the picture of you in your vehicle while the rain falls reminds me that change can be as refreshing as a rain fall!
Change is exciting most of the time. It can be very exhausting in the process but God has been so good to me as I get ready to move. I love the reminder from you that change can be as refreshing as rainfall. Beautiful image to carry with me as I do a few last minute things to get my place ready to sell.
I am not moving, but my daughter, son in law and my grandson (and soon-to-be born grandson) moved in with us this last week. There is stuff everywhere and sometimes I feel the anxiety rising up. Thank you for the reminder to just breathe. I’m excited about another new journey for you. Can’t wait to hear more!
I know about having grown married children living with me. My younger son and daughter in law have been living with me since October. We just sent a good month getting rid of all the extra stuff though so I can sell my place. I would love your prayers for perfect timing so my son and wife find a place and for mine to sell quickly. Thank you for stopping by!
Sounds like a whirlwind of exciting challenges, my friend! I will be praying that you will be able to find intentional moments, each day, with Him. And that in those moments, He will give you wisdom and discernment, peace and clarity for this journey. Blessings!
I cherish your prayers for intentional moments with God. The journey is a whirlwind but God can direct it with peace and and clarity. I’m sure as all the details fall into place, I will be sharing more. Thank you for visiting.
Your transition continues, friend. Can’t wait to hear your moving story if you choose to share it with us {or did I miss the post along the way?!}
Wherever you find yourself this evening, I hope you’re wrapped in peaceful expectancy. I am praying for you as things shift in your life yet once again.
Maybe my theme should be new beginnings but this one truly is the start of something new. I have not moved yet. Prepping my condo for sale and then praying for perfect timing as I sell and have a new condo built. Very exciting time to say the least. I will keep everyone posted as time allows but certainly will share when it is all said and done. Thank you for the hope for peaceful expectancy. I knew moving was hard but the memories and pieces of the past that pop up delay the whole process at times. I cherish your prayers!!
Yes….just breathe! This was just the reminder I needed this week. Thank You sweet friend!
I am so glad that this was a timely reminder. I love when He does that. May we both just breathe in God and praise Him for all.
Mary I loved this and related to it on so many levels. Just a little while back I saw my firstborn and only daughter married, ended a painful toxic marriage and lived through 5 moves, all within 4 years time. I ultimately ended up in a lovely little home and became a grandparent among oh so many other joy-fulling things. But the journey here was so full of days where focusing on simply breathing and putting one foot in front of the other was the best I could do.
During this time I repeatedly purged and packed and unpacked and purged and packed and unpacked again and again.
So this particular line you wrote about packing and purging was incredibly relatable….
‘It creates a sense of fulfillment one day and utter despair the next’
In that one line you nailed how I often felt during those few years of uncertainty.
But Lamentations 3:22-23 never left my consciousness during those times – Because of the Lords great love, I will not be consumed for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness.
Thank you dear friend for this beautiful post that triggered these memories, and then all over again, a flood of gratitude for his great unfailing love for me.
So very glad to be on this life journey with you.
V
I have read your words several times throughout the day. They touched me so much. Our lives follow a similar path at times and I know you understand what it means to move literally, emotionally and spiritually. We both have been on quite a journey.
Lamentations 3:22-23 is one of my favorites. I have a mug that reminds me of these words as I begin my day. I also have it written on a card that I display. I can never get enough of this promise from God. I am blessed that these words triggered memories but also deep gratitude. Love you friend!
Packing, moving, changes, and yes all we can do sometimes is breathe, breathe in is grace and love, and breathe out and let it go to him.
I ma breathing in God’s grace and love along with you. I pray I continue to let it go and let God do what He does best. Thank you for visiting.
Mary,
I do encourage you on as you have embraced and walked through every change in your life, especially because change is not easy (at least not for me). But, like you so beautifully pointed out, God calls us to places where we need to stand, sit, or lie still and simply breathe. When we inhale, we inhale His life, His presence, His peace – things we can’t do without. Joining with you in breathing this Sabbath. Praying for you in this next chapter of change. You are doing remarkably well!! Cheering you on!
Blessings,
Bev xx
Your affirming words mean so much to me. I have been through so much change. I am praying this next one takes me on a steady path for awhile. However, knowing God, I am sure He will mix things up along the way. I cherish your prayers and your beautiful encouragement. Happy sabbath!
I get this, Mary, from another place. I had to spend a large part of the day in a foetal position, head pillowed on an empty 2-liter soda bottle, waiting for the pain to subside. If it ever would.
And all I could do was breathe.
http://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2017/05/your-dying-spouse-306-but-i-still-trust.html
Your struggles are a testimony to your strength. I pray that as you breathe, you feel God’s peace surrounding you.