A Birthday Promise to Myself
I turned 38 two days ago. There is nothing like a birthday to make someone realize just how quickly time flies by. Just yesterday I was graduating seminary, getting ordained Deacon in the UMC, and leading chapel with my youngest child Matt on my hip. Fast forward to today and all of the sudden I have a 10 year old and an 8 year old and have more than safely aged out of what is officially considered the “young clergy group.” And that’s okay… I love where I am in ministry. I love the age of my boys. I love how God has grown me through my years of ministry.
But, I realize now more than ever how fast these years are flying by. For someone who is pretty intentional about most things, I have been very unintentional about setting aside time to write and reflect about where God has shown up in my day. In children’s ministry and motherhood, I feel like so much of my theologizing goes unspoken. My thoughts, prayers, and ah-ha moments are often only shared with my husband Ryan or in hallway conversations with friends and fellow parents. For someone who loves to write and reflect, I figured I should probably do something about that.
So, rather than a birthday candle wish, this year I decided to make a promise to myself… a covenant between Monique and Monique.
This year I will not let my to do lists get in the way of my sabbath time. I will not catch up on laundry or the 452 things I still need to get done for church. Every Thursday (my sabbath day) I am covenanting with myself to take time to reflect upon life as a mom, a minister, and a maker. Instead of meaninglessly posting to Facebook about my theological reflections, or adventures with two kids with ADHD, or sharing my latest craft project or recipe, I am going to blog about it.
Maybe this is something I need to do so I can reflect upon the ways God shows up in my day to day. Maybe my story might help someone out there who is in similar shoes (flip flops, in my case.)
I have no idea where this will go or what God will do with it. But, I am making a promise to myself to write something from my heart or table (and isn’t that the same thing) once a week.
There, I did it. See you next week!
