Just Breathe....
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Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10
I recently signed up for some yoga classes. Two precious friends teach at this studio, so I decided to give it a try.
In the past, I have always kind of rolled my eyes at yoga. It wasn't challenging enough. Or so I thought.
Boy, was I wrong.
Here is why I love yoga: It forces me to slow down. And breathe.
Breathing is something that we often forget to do.
Slowing down is not even on most of our radars.
Why is this?
In my early parenting years, I thought by the time my kids became teenagers life would slow down.
It is completely the opposite.
Life will never slow down.
There will always be something to do.
There is a story in the bible that I can relate to so much. It is the story of Mary and Martha.
Jesus comes to visit and Mary sits at His feet soaking up every word. Martha on the other hand is busy and distracted. She cannot sit down because there is just too much to be done. Oh my, can you relate?
Here is the passage:
38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42
I have been Martha so many times. Inviting company over and stressed to the max before they even get here. Dreading that I even asked them over!
Seriously? What is wrong with me.
Suddenly, I notice every single dust spot in my house. Every single flaw. I notice suddenly how small my kitchen is and how some [most] of our plates are chipped. Then, I yell at everyone not to touch a blessed thing or they shall surely DIE.
Martha, Martha. I get you.
Here Jesus was at her house. Jesus, the Son of God. Surely she wanted everything to be perfect.
But, her sister Mary wanted only one thing...she wanted to be with Jesus. To slow down and sit at His feet. She wanted to inhale His presence, breathing in His holiness.
Mary lived in the present, Martha lived in perfection.
Mary probably did some Holy Yoga from time to time. [kidding]
I love to write. It is pure therapy to my soul. However, sometimes I just don't make time for it. There are just too many demands. Or are there?
Maybe I just cannot slow down enough to stop and do the things I enjoy. The things that bring joy to my heart.
Mary stopped. She quieted herself. She knew what her heart needed.
I have a challenge for us. Well, it is really for me, but I would love for you to do this with me.
Let's stop. Breathe. Inhale. Exhale.
Let's notice what is happening right in the very present. Oh, don't you see? That's where Jesus is.
He is with the people around us. The little faces we feed everyday. The big husband face we tend to. The little puppy face that gets into every living thing.
Jesus is there. In all of it. Right where you are.
We keep the plates spinning so fast that we don't stop and put those plates down, and breathe. Breathe in the sweetness of your child's breath. The humming of a dishwasher that holds those chipped plates that the very loves of your life eat from. The birds chirping out that window that needs cleaning.
He is in all of this.
"But will God indeed dwell with mankind on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You; how much less this house which I have built. 2 Chronicles 6:18
What do you say we take time to breathe today?
If you are with me, send me a note via email, or leave a comment. I need to know I am not alone here. I need to know there are more Martha's out there in pursuit of Mary-ness.
We can do this. Together.
grabbing my yoga mat,
jill
Prayer Requests Page: Here.
SHINE Reading Plan: Here.
Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10
I recently signed up for some yoga classes. Two precious friends teach at this studio, so I decided to give it a try.
In the past, I have always kind of rolled my eyes at yoga. It wasn't challenging enough. Or so I thought.
Boy, was I wrong.
Here is why I love yoga: It forces me to slow down. And breathe.
Breathing is something that we often forget to do.
Slowing down is not even on most of our radars.
Why is this?
In my early parenting years, I thought by the time my kids became teenagers life would slow down.
It is completely the opposite.
Life will never slow down.
There will always be something to do.
There is a story in the bible that I can relate to so much. It is the story of Mary and Martha.
Jesus comes to visit and Mary sits at His feet soaking up every word. Martha on the other hand is busy and distracted. She cannot sit down because there is just too much to be done. Oh my, can you relate?
Here is the passage:
38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42
I have been Martha so many times. Inviting company over and stressed to the max before they even get here. Dreading that I even asked them over!
Seriously? What is wrong with me.
Suddenly, I notice every single dust spot in my house. Every single flaw. I notice suddenly how small my kitchen is and how some [most] of our plates are chipped. Then, I yell at everyone not to touch a blessed thing or they shall surely DIE.
Martha, Martha. I get you.
Here Jesus was at her house. Jesus, the Son of God. Surely she wanted everything to be perfect.
But, her sister Mary wanted only one thing...she wanted to be with Jesus. To slow down and sit at His feet. She wanted to inhale His presence, breathing in His holiness.
Mary lived in the present, Martha lived in perfection.
Mary probably did some Holy Yoga from time to time. [kidding]
I love to write. It is pure therapy to my soul. However, sometimes I just don't make time for it. There are just too many demands. Or are there?
Maybe I just cannot slow down enough to stop and do the things I enjoy. The things that bring joy to my heart.
Mary stopped. She quieted herself. She knew what her heart needed.
I have a challenge for us. Well, it is really for me, but I would love for you to do this with me.
Let's stop. Breathe. Inhale. Exhale.
Let's notice what is happening right in the very present. Oh, don't you see? That's where Jesus is.
He is with the people around us. The little faces we feed everyday. The big husband face we tend to. The little puppy face that gets into every living thing.
Jesus is there. In all of it. Right where you are.
We keep the plates spinning so fast that we don't stop and put those plates down, and breathe. Breathe in the sweetness of your child's breath. The humming of a dishwasher that holds those chipped plates that the very loves of your life eat from. The birds chirping out that window that needs cleaning.
He is in all of this.
"But will God indeed dwell with mankind on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You; how much less this house which I have built. 2 Chronicles 6:18
What do you say we take time to breathe today?
If you are with me, send me a note via email, or leave a comment. I need to know I am not alone here. I need to know there are more Martha's out there in pursuit of Mary-ness.
We can do this. Together.
grabbing my yoga mat,
jill
