Proverbs 4:23
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
Did you ever notice just how busy we really are all the time?
Let’s be real here. We are all extremely busy people. I am not sure we even know how to slow down. Even our vacations seem to get packed with must see’s or must do’s let alone everything it takes to get ready for a vacation. Oh, and don’t forget all the stuff waiting for us when we get back.
Recently, my husband and I went up to Wisconsin for my in-laws 50th wedding anniversary. It was a weekend getaway. Easy right? One would think so. Just grab a few things and get out of the house. However, when I got home from work Friday night I still needed to pack and my work schedule that day seemed overwhelming. So, I felt frantic.
When I walked in the door I was met with a frantic husband. He had been home that day making sure the house was cleaned up and animals all taken care of for our house sitter. Only thing was life had gotten in the way of all of his plans as well. So, meet Mr. & Mrs. Frantic.
I should mention right now that we decided to take our not quite two-year-old granddaughter with us. This was her first five-hour road trip. No one was quite sure what to expect. I certainly didn’t expect to learn a very valuable lesson from her.
God tells us clearly to guard our hearts because everything flows from it. Getting tired and overwhelmed is not good for our flow. When we don’t learn to recharge our bodies and our minds that nice quiet flow can turn into raging rapids.
You could say my husband and I were trapped in one of those raging rapids by the time we hit the road. Then, I saw my granddaughter.
During our trip, she laughed, pointed out the cows, the windmills and waved hi at everyone who passed. She played with her toes and sang her ABC’s. Then every once in a while she would yell Mawmaw! Mawmaw! To jibber jabber about something that caught her attention. She was taking the time to enjoy the ride.
Five hours later, we pulled into our hotel. My husband and I were exhausted but she continued to smile. We got to our hallway and ran into cousins she had never even met and she began sharing her cookies and laughing with them all. After a long ride, she played hostess and made sure everyone got some love.
We walked into the room and she ran to one of the beds laying claim by putting baby and blanket promptly on top. I got her and I ready for bed and she climbed in, turned around, and flopped in the middle of all the pillows. She pulled the fluffy comforter up to her chin. She snuggled deep down and let out a great big mmmmmmmm!
My little baby bop didn’t let life dampen her adventure. She didn’t let five hours trapped in a car seat get her upset. She didn’t hesitate to share love and joy with everyone around her. And at the end of the day, she sank in and let herself get swallowed up in the comfort of a great big fluffy bed. Without realizing it she was guarding her heart and love was flowing out.
For the rest of the trip, my husband and I took the time to just go with the flow. It is amazing the new tricks a not quite two-year-old can teach these two old dogs!
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