Back To The Basics

I have a rule for myself. When bad things happen I let myself feel depressed, sad, upset, angry, or whatever negative emotion I need to feel and deal with for a small amount of time. Anywhere from an hour to a day depending on the situation, but no more than a day. Once that time is up, I move forward. Or at least start the process of moving forward. I start trying to change my thinking and perspective. Either I sit down and start writing out a plan to change things, writing in a journal, dropping to my knees in prayer right there in that moment, or just take my kids outside and go for a walk or play or do something that takes the focus off of whatever the situation is. My kids often start the process by giving me a smile when I need it most. If you know my kids you know my daughter is always a great form of entertainment.

I came up with this rule when we lost our twins two years ago. It was such a tragic event that put me in such a deep depressed place that I needed to find the right path to being myself again. So I came up with this rule. I allowed myself to feel that deep depressed place for the rest of that day and then decided that once that day was over I was going to do whatever I could to start the process of getting my life back. That didn't mean forgetting or never acknowledging them again or even never crying again. I definitely still cried and I still to this day think about them each day several times a day. But I needed to find a way to remember them and keep them with me in a healthy way, not a way that would send me into a depression each time. God gave us emotions for a reason. I believe they are another tool he uses to teach us and help us grow. For me, this rule allows me to get back to the things in life that are important and that keep me grounded and joyful, the things that matter the most in life. The basics.

Some people think that the basics in life are the simple things, the small things, things that in the grand scheme of things don't matter all that much. But what is simple, small or insignificant about my children, my husband, my family, and especially my God?! Those are all things that have formed me and made me who I am today and the things that will shape my future and that are changing me right now. They are the fundamentals, the base of my life. But when life gets crazy those are the things that I tend to forget first. Not that I neglect my children but I am not as connected with them when I am stressed out. It is all business and I forget to take time to enjoy them and not just meet their needs. It is usually at the end of the day around bath time or bed time when I realize that I have been more business like than mother like.

When the Pharisees asked "which is the greatest commandment", Jesus gave such a simple basic command that is the most important thing that we are to do. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." There is so much to learn from Jesus' life and his words. I could live for 1000 years and never really learn everything that He can possibly teach me. So when I see him give such a simple response, it surprises me a little. But there is nothing simple about Jesus or anything that he teaches. It sounds simple but when you look at what He is asking, not so much. The more I look at that verse the more it blows my mind.

I love my children more than life. There is nothing I would not do for them. And when it comes down to it I'm not too sure I could sacrifice them to save the world like our Father did. Sorry guys but if God ever asked me to do that, I have a feeling that I would say, as my dad says, you can stick our head between your legs and kiss your butt goodbye. Jesus asks, no, COMMANDS us to love the Lord more than ANYTHING else in our lives. That is hard. It is a basic command in that it is the fundamental, the foundation and base of everything that is me. But there is nothing simple about it.

Having worked the last nine years in the mental illness/developmental disabilities area of the social service field, I have a lot of first hand experience of how powerful the mind can be and how reality can be so distorted for some people. Our mind has the power to create it's own reality, it's own world. Our mind creates a reality that most of the time is not accurate. By switching my perspective and focusing solely on Jesus, it is amazing how everything else just falls into place.

Life has been a little crazy for various reasons lately. There are lots of things happening and when I get overwhelmed or stressed, I shut down and push it away. In the process of doing that, I lose that commandment that Jesus has given me. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." I can't just love Him when it's time to go to church on Sunday or when things get hard. That doesn't work. I need to be throwing my whole self into the Word and into prayer. Loving the Lord should be soul stirring and move you down to your core. It should shake your whole being. It should overtake you.

No matter how crazy life gets, how difficult things become, or how badly we feel about things, we are commanded to "Love the Lord" with everything within us. The devil will always be there, bad things will always happen. But if my mind and my soul and my heart are rooted in Jesus, nothing can stop me.   When you love the Lord the way Jesus commands us, I find pure joy and contentment. It's time to find that joy and contentment again. It's time for me to get back to the basics.

I always find joy in these sweet kiddos! I mean, how can you not?

This is the book I am reading again to help me get back to the basics.