Piles of Snow and Piles of Laundry

“The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him”

Psalms 37:23 

“Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

Lamentations 3:22-23

The snow is piled up higher than ever in Arkansas and the laundry is coming in close behind.  

Our Hardy party of three has spent the past week enjoying crunchy walks in the snow, collecting snow for snow ice cream, and creating new ways to enjoy the powdery white fun that waits outside our windows. We have worked our way through a thousand pair of socks and a dozen hats while also trying to conserve energy by not washing laundry. At one point, someone even dried their socks in the microwave…I’ll let you imagine who that might have been. It has been a riot around here most days and some of that time I wanted to pull my gray hairs out.

Just keeping it real, folks.

The warm hours we have spent indoors have been full of puzzles, board games, “keepy-uppy” (a game affectionately named for keeping a balloon off the floor), books, snuggles in front of the fireplace, and the occasional movie. We have eaten more meals around the table this week than in the previous three weeks combined and the same could be said of calories. We have taken time, albeit difficult, to slow down and see one another in every moment that God gifts. We have exchanged words of kindness and words of correction while trying to get this thing called life down to an art.

The moments have been beautiful but because I’m still in the middle of those moments, some of them have been messy.

By nature, I am a future oriented person. It takes a great deal of effort for me to simply focus on and enjoy the moments at hand because I am always moving towards what will happen next.

Before the snow arrived, I calculated a worst case scenario plan in case we lost power and prepared my mind for the many what-ifs. I mentally meal prepped and ensured we had all of the food we needed. I washed clothes and hunted down snow gear for our little. I checked flashlights and batteries and counted up blankets. We gathered up my mom and mother-in-law to ensure that if power was lost, our people would be safe and sound (or at least safe). I did everything I knew to do to get myself and my people as ready as we could be. Really, I just wore myself out.

I have a terrible tendency of doing that.

Then…when the snow fell and the power stayed, I chose to take a breath. I chose to stand in the snow with my best friend and kiss as our eyelashes seemed to freeze. I chose to lay in the fresh powder with my girl and fan out snow angels with laughter bursting forth. I chose to eat multiple bowls of ice cream and added sprinkles to the delight of my daughter. I chose to take long walks, deep breaths, and listen to the quiet outside. I chose to be present.

I struggle deeply with the goal of living present because I live with a future orientation. However, I have learned that just because I struggle with living present doesn’t mean it’s impossible for me.

Every morning of this snowy week I woke up with a single prayer:

“God, I thank you for your mercies that are new today. I ask you to order my steps and help me RSVP to the moments you deliver into my life. I can’t do any of this without you so I’m relying on you to be my guide.”

He delivered opportunities for me to live present. I did not seize each one perfectly. Some of them passed me by because I was too focused on what was coming next. Some of them passed me by because I was caught up in the doing instead of the being. Some of them passed me by because I was focused on someone else or something else other than the day God marked out for ME. On the other hand, I did capture many precious moments and will choose to revel in those. I am thankful for the faithfulness of God to lead a stubborn heart like mine through days that would otherwise have passed me by without reflection and reverence.  

I captured moments that I allowed to fully capture me. I captured a renewed glimpse of God through those moments that captured me.

Do you struggle with living present? Do you struggle with “being” instead of focusing on all of the “doing?” Do you feel guilty for moments missed or comparisons made?

My encouragement to you, dear friend, is to ask the Lord to be your guide and your portion for presence. He will be for you all that you allow Him to become in your life. He will renew mercies and order steps and remove comparisons and capture you with more of Himself. His leading in these areas is the only way you will be successful at living differently. After all, if you could do it on your own you would’ve probably figured it out by now.

Meditate on the truths of His word today. Allow Him to become for you all that you need in order to live present right where you are, even if where you are is covered up with piles of laundry and dependent upon endless prayers.

Piles of Snow and Piles of Laundry

© Dani Hardy, February 16, 2021