How To Do More Than Survive a New Season

I hate September. Well, maybe not everything about September.

After all, there are sweatshirts and apples and cool nights. Those are the saving graces, because the rest brings me to my knees.

The Shift

Shifting from a summer mindset into a school mindset is rough, even without a global pandemic. I’m not just talking bedtimes and early wakeups either.

There’s first days and open houses and picnics and back to school nights, some in person, some virtual. The sports schedules get underway and the school supply lists get longer every year. And the beginning of the year forms are enough to make a grown woman cry. It’s a lot.

We’re supposed to do it all with a smile on our face, a homemade dinner in the oven, and perfect hair. (I’d settle for one of the three!)

The Original Plan

I made a note in my planner last week. There’s a spot to write your weekly focus. It was the week my kids went back to school and my one word was: SURVIVE. Yup. That was it. My one goal. And if you’re reading this, it means we did. (YAY!!!)

We survived the shopping and the lunch packing and the what to wear to look cool but not like you’re trying too hard. Everyone made it through the I-can’t-sleep the night before and the early wake-up. We survived it all.

I should be celebrating but I still feel overwhelmed.

The New Plan

So, I’m turning the page. Clean slate, new week, new word.

GRACE

I have a feeling this will be a month-long pursuit until the leaves, and my heart, begin to change and settle into new rhythms.

I’m relearning a few lessons. I’m looking for things like joy, peace, goodness — these are sounding a bit familiar.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.

Galatians 5:22-23, CSB

While we’re in this place of fresh starts and clean slates, sometimes we cling to control and structure. Believe me, I know. But what if we could discover the fruits of the spirit more as we order our days?

The Spiritual Seeds Planner is all about living the fruit-filled, Holy Spirit led life we long for. Instead of focusing on achievement, this planner guides you to spiritual growth as you plan your days.

It’s all too easy to get wrapped up in the checklists and the schedules and the busyness of a new season. But what if we went to God instead?

Friend, we don’t need to be consumed with chaos and busy and stress. We can embrace the grace of a new season with JOY and PEACE in Jesus!