Tuesday, May 20, 2014

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.

2 comments:

  1. Thank you Ruby for the words of encouragement! Abundant life...my mind has been focusing on that lately. It's a choice, a daily walk with our Saviour and He gives us joy! Our journey has been up hill the last 3 months with Eric doing firefighter training and it's been busy and tough sometimes but this week is his last and we both were just talking last evening how it will be soo nice to have more time and schedule! I will remember you in the coming weeks with the busyness of farming! Blessing to you! Love your pictures and the beautiful faces of children! ~Sheila

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  2. Thank you, Sheila! I didn't know that Eric is training to be a firefighter; that's great! :) Those crazy times are often what push us to depend on Christ, and find our strength in Him. Blessings to you, friend!!

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