The Busy Battle

Being busy can disconnect you from the most important people and parts of your life. Battle busy with connection and pockets of rest.

Wow, life is busy! Every day, week, and month in this season has been going by with lightning speed. There are a few reasons  why that come to mind. We are soon to be welcoming our baby girl in about a month! Fall season is always a busy season for our family on the ranch, my husband’s taxidermy business, and for my currant job at the Post Office.

There are always so many things to do and they never seem to stay done… laundry, dishes, cleaning and homework help. This season I really felt that I had to fight for connection with friends and family because of how busy we are. How often does the enemy distract us from what is important by being busy?

I want everything I do to glorify God even those dishes… when we are so busy it’s easy to end up crashing from exhaustion and pushing off things that are so very important. I have to fight for connection with God, my husband, children, family and friends.

When we are in a busy season it is vital to find pockets of rest and connection. My go to has been a bubble bath for rest. Connection time for my husband and I resulted in getting up early and going hunting with him. For the boys we focus on cooking/baking and playing card games together. For friends and family, I rely heavily on phone calls and a magical app called Marco Polo. If you haven’t ever tried Marco Polo I highly recommend!!! You record a video and send it to your friend or family member. When they have time they watch and respond with their own video back. You can set up group chats as well :)

As the Holiday Busy Season approaches take time for connection and rest. Ask God to highlight ways to stay connected with family and friends. follow those nudges to call people when they come across your mind. What worked in a different season may not work in this season.

God reminded me today of a great way to have fun with him and to stay connected with others I care about. A great woman and friend named Dawn Jones, shared this wonderful idea. Get a container out that you don’t mind looking at to leave on the counter top. My choice was a mason jar, but I might switch to a pretty vase. Take small pieces of paper and write people’s names on them, fold the paper, and drop them into the jar. When I remember or my kids remember for me… We pull out a piece of paper and read it and take action.

I also have pray needs, requests, and questions for God on these papers as well.

“God encounter me with your love in a new way today.”

“What does wisdom look like for me in this season for finances?”

“Show me my children’s identity in you, Lord.”

It’s really fun to see what God brings to our attention with just a little piece of paper! The possibilities are endless so have fun with what you write down!

Now to the action part after you have chosen a paper and read the  contents. If it’s a name, I start praying for them and asking God to bless them. Surround them with His tangible love. Release dreams of strategy. I pray whatever bubbles up. My mind may not know what’s going on but God does and I trust Him. Next, I reach out to the person usually through a phone call.

Tonight our oldest pulled out a bunch of papers from the jar and had my husband and I both pick one at different times. I said the name out loud and my husband shared that he had also drawn that name…God does nothing on accident and His still small voice is always there.

I got the message loud and clear. It’s very important to reach out to this person and to lift them up in prayer. I did reach out and the conversation didn’t seem super important… however it not my place to rate the value of our conversation. Sometimes we expect a harvest when we are simple to plant seeds of love. My role was to respond in obedience to Holy Spirit and make the time for a phone call.

We would love to know ways you stay connected with friends and family in a busy season, and if you try the prayer jar! Please share in the comments below ❤️