With our extra time it home, it can feel hard. But you can do more than survive during this time; you can thrive!
As of today I have been home for 45 days.
I’m not complaining, honestly. I’m safe. I’m healthy. I have the things I need. Even in the middle of a worldwide pandemic I am okay. My days are blissfully un-busy, at least according to how things were. In fact, I’ve told you before about how much I love empty calendar squares.
This is different.
It’s not that I don’t HAVE to go anywhere; it’s that I CAN’T go anywhere. There’s a big difference.
From the first day of being home with three kids and a husband who is back and forth to the hospital, I knew this would be hard. And it would be a different kind of hard than I’m used to.
I lost my ability to choose in a day. And that left me feeling all tangled up inside. As much as I love being home, being with the same people without breaks, without our usual outlets that gets hard. Even being with myself that long feels hard.
Only one thing will make it work.
I realized early on that there would be a lot of things that make this hard.
- lack of space
- too much time together
- all the feelings
- messier house
- learning new ways of doing things
We could all write lists of things that would be hard. And the only solution I know is one thing:
GRACE
That’s the only thing that makes it all easier. It’s no surprise that God timed my receipt of this book just a few weeks in:
The back reads:
What if today is the perfect time to notice God’s grace in one another?
Amy Seiffert, Grace Looks Amazing On You
Now is the perfect time indeed.
We have an opportunity.
This may not feel easy, but we have the opportunity to learn more about grace.
Grace for the extra sibling squabbles.
Grace when the power goes out and distance learning and work are impossible.
Grace when we feel like we’ve screwed it all up and we just want to hide and eat chocolate.
Every one of these has been a little snippet of my time at home, but more importantly, of my opportunity to embrace grace.
Do you need help grabbing hold of God’s grace?
Grace Looks Amazing On You is a great, simple place to start. With 100 simple devotions and inspiring reflections, you can learn more about God’s grace and what that looks like in your life.
This is how we thrive in this hard time.
Discover grace today!
So great to connect with you today vis Inspire Me Mondays. I love the title of this book! I’m right there with you in the emotional navigating the loss of choice and freedom to do what I want. This experience is making me grateful for so many blessings and freedoms I never thought twice about. I’m pinning your post and will share it on my FB page. Blessings to you!
Isn’t it great to be reminded we’re not alone? So grateful you are here, and thank you for sharing!
Grace can be so beneficial in our relationships with others. Many battles that don’t need to be fought can be avoided by granting a little grace. Which doesn’t compare to the grace of God.
That’s so true, Eric! That little bit of grace makes a BIG difference!
Grace and then another helping of grace please. Yes, it will help us get through this and thrive. Grace with others, and for our self.
Amen, girl! Amen!
You hit the nail on the head with describing how everyone feels at this point. It’s a great reminder to step back and count your blessings.
This is an unexpected place to be (for us) but God is so faithful to show us what we need to get through it well!
Hello neighbor at Sue’s!!!! xo
Always nice to see you friend!
Yes! We need even more grace at this time. And not only grace with others but also grace with ourselves. Thank you so much, Rebecca! I would love to get that book. 🙂 Thank you for the offer.
It is truly lovely! Make sure you enter the giveaway!
It IS hard to be with myself for a long time! This post is perfect.
I’m not the only one?!
mmm … grace.
yes, God’s grace. that will get us through the unknown and the complex and the scarey.
i’m so grateful …
Grateful indeed!
Theres no doubt that grace works in every situation where we’re struggling. This is a tough time, for sure. But even when we can’t give ourselves grace, there’s One who can. Through all the daily challenges, the Lord tells us that His grace is sufficient. For that, we have so much to be thankful for.
Yes! You are exactly right, Wendy!
I always keep in mind something from Lysa Terkeurst, I give grace to others because I so desperately need it myself. Great post, Rebecca. Love Amy’s book!
I agree! I need so much grace!
Such a good reminder – to extend grace to myself and everyone around me! Working on being grateful for all the extra practice.
I love this perspective! Grateful for the extra practice 🙂
“Can’t” makes such a difference. I stay at home 95% of the time anyway, but not being able to go out takes a toll, as does having everyone home, as does feeling like I am taking my life in my hands if I do go anywhere. I am so thankful for God’s grace to calm our fears, supply our needs, and helps us deal with each other in love.
He is so good and faithful. I always hate these situations where there isn’t a clear right or wrong. I keep going to Him for guidance and trust that He will show us exactly what to do!
God has provided this pause in our regular routines to get the chance to know Him better. When we do this, we better understand grace and the undeserved gift that this is. What a sweet book and what perfect timing on God’s part. He always knows what we need, doesn’t He?
It’s really interesting to think about how God is using this time for His good. He always knows what’s best, even a book delivery!