Happy Monday friends!
When you read this, I’ll be just finishing up a long day on set filming Mother Goose Club videos!
But as of right now, writing this, it’s Sunday night. My special gentleman just left. We spent the afternoon together, went to Mass, met our friends’ new baby, did some shopping and ate a beautiful dinner. (And he helped my re-pot my plants…if you follow me on Instagram (@beauty.beyond.bones) I made a video on there, you may have seen it.)
It was a really great day and an extra-special weekend.
But I don’t know about you, but it feels like lately, it is the season of overwhelm. Work deadlines, preparing for upcoming trips, planning for Thanksgiving, Christmas shopping and playing Russian roulette with shipping your online purchases. Throw in a season wildcard: like attending a wedding, or hosting a Christmas party -or both, in my case- and…our plates are full.
Couple that with the crippling inflation that is making everyone tighten our belts and question how in the world we’re going to foot the bill for all these upcoming seasonal expenses, let alone the groceries…and it’s enough to make me throw up my hands and say, “I give up!”
Maybe that’s just me?
But at Mass tonight, Fr. Mike’s homily was really incredible…as they always are. But the theme of the talk felt like it was written just for me.
“What is God asking of me right now?”
Such a simple thought, right? And yet powerful enough to get’cha up and over the mountain.
What is God asking of me right now?
I think sometimes, I can get so overwhelmed with the big picture, that I can forget that walking takes putting one foot in front of the other. I’m too worried about the potential roadblock or detour way up ahead, that I completely stumble over my feet, forgetting the very basics of left-foot, right-foot. Repeat.
As I’ve been reflecting on this…thinking about my life, my pursuits, and my current situation, the more this one very particular word keeps coming to the front of my mind:
Patience.
You see, as your textbook “Type A” individual, I like to have control over my life, my future, my income, my timeline…everything.
(And yes – that absolutely played a role in developing anorexia, and the control I thought it was giving me. (You can learn more about that here).)
But patience.
I’ve got to realize that my timeline is not God’s timeline. And though I may wish it were, the fact of the matter is that God’s Will will come to fruition when it’s supposed to.
My only job is to trust that that’s true. To trust that God’s plan for my life is on purpose, and I cannot rush or hurry along the process.
Funny how patience and trust go hand-in-hand, right?
What is God asking of me right now?
I think sometimes, we don’t need to look further than what – or who – is right in front of us.
Who can we show love to? How can I share Christ’s light in whatever situation I find myself in? How can I help, or serve my neighbor? How can I love the people in my life better? How can I be Christ’s hands and feet where I am in this very moment?
You see, the more I thought about it, the more I realized how simple it is.
You know how, one of the things I was so overwhelmed about, was going to a wedding, and finding “the perfect” dress to wear to it? Well, instead of stressing out over what to wear, the more important thing to concern myself with, is how can I be a light at this wedding? It’s not: “How will I look in the dress that night?” But rather, “How will I make people feel that night?”
Case in point: Do I thint that at the Wedding at Caanaan, when Jesus was saving the day, and turning the water into wine, that He was worried what people thought about how He looked in His tunic?
Heaven’s no.
He was helping people. He was serving people. He was doing what God needed Him to do at that very moment.
It turns out that so many of life’s little stressors — that, truthfully when we get down to brass tacks, are usually just “me problems”… — so many of those stressors would just *poof* disappear, if I were only to just take the focus off of myself, and instead turn it outwards.
So.
I think I’m going to take that into the holiday season with me. If I feel myself starting to get a little stressed, to just stop and ask myself, “What is God asking of me right now?”
Makes life a whole lot simpler. Love others. Trust God. And find ways to serve and be His light to the world.
Until Wednesday!
“This is what the Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life.” Ez 37:5
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45 responses to “Outward Living”
Yes, absolutely. I love this and I especially love the question if Jesus worried about what he would look like in a tunic. I, too, am too much of this world and not enough of what is the bigger spiritual picture. Thank you for the reminder.
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on this! yes! i had a bit of a chuckle writing that sentence about the tunic, just because it was such an absurd thought! But youre so right – glad you stopped by! Hugs and love xox
Great post, Caralyn! You look so beautiful in the first photo. I think that people are having to re-think how they do Christmas these days. The cost of living continues to escalate leaving folks with less disposable income. Hence, the way people gift has to change. For years now, I’ve gifted prepaid gift cards. It works great and is so simple. It’s easy to control your spending this way too. Just a thought! Be well. ❤️
thank you so much John! Aw, that’s nice of you to say! I think you’re right – Christmas is going to look different this year. My family has already said that we want to have a scaled down, more meaningful christmas. which i really appreciate. And hey – nothing wrong with a gift card! it’s always the RIGHT gift! Hugs and love xox
Amen, Caralyn, well said! Great reminder for all of us. Blessings!
thank you so much Ryan! So glad this resonated with you! Hugs and love xox
Long time no comment; looks like you’re doing great though!
And yep .. what’s expected is right in front of each one of us:
Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
where “prepared” carries the sense of it being ordained, so we don’t have to seek very hard to see it.
Also, the “workmanship” is poema in the Greek, meaning masterwork .. so we are God’s masterpieces. That is awesome.
hey hey friend! great to hear from you! oh i love that verse from Eph! Thank you for sharing it with me! And amen to that – masterpieces! glad you stopped by! Hugs and love xox
Great read… as I’m on my way to shop for a dress for my daughter’s wedding, happening in a few weeks. Thank you for the timely message. It isn’t about the perfect dress but about how I make others feel and how well I show the love of Jesus to them. 💙
That was the simple but powerful reminder I needed today! Thanks. Glad you’re doing well. 🙂
🙂 thank you Hannah! so glad it resonated with you! Hugs and love xox
thank you so much for your kind words! i’m so glad this resonated with you! Congrats to your daughter! that is so exciting! As i’m entering the phase of life where I hope that’s not too far away, i can really appreciate the excitement that she must be feeling! so glad you stopped by! Hugs and love xox
Yes that is the big question for all of us. Every human being in this world carries baggage that mostly is not apparent as we like to protect our privacy. So a cheerful word or deed done in the name of Jesus can often lift spirits that are desperate for human touch. The more we study the life of Jesus on earth the more attractive that mission will be for all of us.
Hi Ian! Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts about this! you’re right- we all have things that we carry with us. And amen! may we all find the couarge and zeal to answer His call for our lives! Hugs and love xox
Nice thoughts Caralyn. You have a good perspective on life due to your faith.
Hi Derek! Thank you so much for your kind words! Yes – I agree, faith definitely allows for a great perspective with which to observe life! Hugs and love xox
It is definitely a season of overwhelm right now, with a lot of uncertainty ahead. Thank you for this reminder to focus on what God wants me (and each of us) to do right now, in this moment (not six months from now).
Hi Ellen! Thank you so much for sharing your heart on this. Amen to that – God just wants our hearts in the here and now! Have a wonderful thanksgiving next week! Hugs and love xox
A beautiful post thank you so much
thank you so much! Hugs and love xox
Well said. Overwhelmed should be the word of the year for both 2020 and 2021.
What you said about Jesus not worrying about what people thought of his tunic reminded me of an episode of The Chosen. He always thought of others first.
Hi Myron, thank you so much for sharing your heart on this. You’re right – that should be the word of the years! I need to watch The Chosen! Sounds like a great program! Hugs and love xox
Yes… good point 🙂
Thank you so much Greg! Hope you’re having a great week~ Hugs and love xox
[…] Outward Living […]
Thank you Tonya for the link up! Hugs and love xox
Love this post. What a great perspective. I’ll be taking that thought into this week with me. Bless you x
Thank you so much! I’m so glad this resonated with you. I hope you’re having a beautiful week so far! Hugs and love xox
I love this so much. This is the third time in the past week that I’ve read or listened to something about having patience and trusting God’s timing and I know I need to listen and have faith and try to stop worrying so much. I love it when I read the right message at exactly the right moment. Thank you so much! 💚
Hi Angela! thank you so much for your kind words! Yes! It sounds like God is trying to communicate with you in a very specific way! So glad that our paths crossed, and that this resonated with you so much! praying for you! Hugs and love xox
Excellent. Patience is a key and vital aspect and ingredient in a happy and Holy life. Hugs and Love 🤗 & ❤️
Hi HJ! Thank you so much for your kind words! You’re right about that – it’s a key and vital ingredient for a Christ-centered life! Hugs and love xox
What a wonderful post! I know so many who really do need to hear these very words right now💕
Hi Laura! Thank you so much for your kind words! Yes – there are a whole lot of people out there who are waiting on God! Myself included! Patience is a must! Sending big hugs to you! xox
I keep asking God for patience, RIGHT NOW. He seems to enjoy making me wait for it. 🤠
Hi CA – hahah oh gosh – God certainly does have a sense of humor, doesn’t He! I’m right there with ya though! Praying for ya! Hugs and love xox
Patience with God? God desires that His children develop at least a smidgen of the patience He has with us.
Hi Rollie, you’re so right about that! just a smidge!! thanks for stopping by! Hugs and love xox
Just lovely! God is showing me this direction as well… What may I bring today to what I meet.
Thank you so much Donna! I’m so glad this resonated with you! yes! With everyone we come in contact with! Hugs and love xox
Loved hearing your talk and testimony, Caralyn.
Hey Mitch! oh gosh, thank you. it truly means so much that you would take the time to watch it. sending so much love and hugs xox
Such wisdom… lovely thoughts.
thank you so much CL! I’m so glad this resonated with you! Hugs and love xox
I really enjoyed looking at the pictures in this blog. Your jeans are so stylish. 🙂