The Abundant Life

The past couple of weeks have flown by in a whirlwind of activity,

with housecleaning, garden planting, weed pulling and flower planting.

They've been weeks of abundance.

The cool morning air is perfect for jogging with a stroller of babies.

The warm afternoon sun tempts us to play in the pool!

Or in the sandbox, if that's your thing!

But Spring also brings with it an abundance of work,

especially for my Farmer husband!

 The hours are long, and the nights short. 

But there is tremendous satisfaction in seeing the fields get planted,

just before the rain comes!

There are suppers in the fields with Papa,

and rides on the skid loader!

There is so much beauty everywhere!

But it's possible to experience all these things

and not live an abundant life.

 I know...because I've been there!

Sometimes, it's just the mundane, mind-numbing normalities that drag us down,

And we forget to stop and say "thank you" for the precious gift of now.

Or more often, it's the trap of comparison.

I love my life...

until I see someone who has a perfectly decorated home,

a toddler who is potty trained in 3 days,

and is still efficiently managing a business!

It's so childish, really...but it's a battle, 

this choice to live an abundant life.

Because it is a choice.

There will always be someone smarter, prettier, skinnier,

a better housewife, and yup....a better mom!

I look at these precious little girls (who, by the way, are the cutest!) and I see joy.

An abundant life is one that is full of joy.

 It's not devoid of suffering. It's messy and hard.

But it is lovely,

when it is lived with joy.

That's the life that I want to live!

An abundant one.