What I Learned This Summer 2016
When life hands you a season of rest, take it. This summer I did. After wrapping up school, I decided to take a step back from the things I was frantically doing each day. Blogwork. Housework. Schoolwork. Bible work.
Although all of those things are good things. And all of those things are profitable. But sometimes work needs to be laid aside for a season of rest. Sometimes a season of talking needs to be replaced with a season of listening. We can still run while we are quiet, and listening. Receiving instead of giving. And I love that running doesn’t mean to be in a hurry. Running means moving forward. No matter the speed.
So this summer, I stepped back and listened. For September, I plan to start linking up, blogging, writing, and sharing with you more regularly. For August, I am still in the soaking…..even though school has started. With the start of school, I’ve conceded the fact that summer is over. So what did I learn from this (extremely short) summer season?
- I learned to listen. When I attended She Speaks, I realized God wanted me to sit back and listen. Listen to the stories of the women I met. Listen to the publishers during my appointments. Listen to God as He spoke to my heart. What I was reminded of is this: Our God isn’t in the wind / / Our God isn’t in thunder and lightening. / / Our God isn’t found in the majestic, but the mundane. The ordinary. The simple things. God is found in the whispering. (I Kings 19:12)
- Quality over quantity. When I took a break from writing, I thought for sure my readership would drop. But instead I found people still showed up! So I knew God was in charge of the page views, not me. And my job is to continue to write good quality. If I can write 400 well crafted words, rather than 800 words thrown together – He will bless.
- I am still learning the value of working smarter, not harder. I took a Pinterest Class by Arabah Joy and for the first time ever I am excited about Pinterest. Previously Pinterest would completely overwhelm me, but now I’m excited to implement her strategies and let Pinterest work for me. SO FOLLOW ME!
- Finding my motivation is one of the things I felt was lacking. I needed a re-charing. I needed a re-direction. I needed to be re-minded. A reset is sometimes necessary to keep going in life. I started going through the Grace Goals by Arabah Joy and am excited to see where God is leading my writing and my life.
- I’ve fallen in love with developing a reading culture. I came across the Read Aloud Revival Podcast, and have started to implement (already) some of the things I’m learning. I love Sarah‘s encouragement, advice, and amazing book recommendations. For the first time in five years of homeschooling I’m excited about starting, due in part to listening to these podcasts and getting great ideas!
- God is teaching me more and more about healing. When you bring home a child from a hard place, put her into your family, and then except her to heal-up, you will be surprised. Her healing will not come without your own healing. I’ve learned to lean into the hurting moments. As I lean into her, and her broken little heart, I am finding God is healing my own heart. Healing is not something that will ever be complete (until heaven) and I am excited to write (and learn) more about healing this Fall.
What have you been learning this summer? I would love to know! Comment below and share with me at least one thing you’ve learned. Enter below for the special Summer Giveaway!
I’m linking up today with Emily P. Freeman’s blog and her “Let’s Share What We Learned This Summer” post.
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ur faith in Christ is an amazing source of strength for our weary hearts. If you struggle with hope and finding peace for your daily life, let me encourage you to download my FREE e-book: Because of Faith. In it you will find encouragement to discover all we have in Christ! Download your own copy {{FREE}} here.
Great lessons and thoughts! I think the one big thing I’ve learned is how much I need to rely on Christ and not myself or those around me… my mantra over the last few months has been “Jesus is my quiet center…” and focusing on that constant when I’m anxious or distressed has made such a difference.
I love that: “Jesus is my quiet center….” 🙂
Having periods in life where more listening and resting is done really can make a difference. Sometimes the most clarity comes during those times, other times we get to learn or reset as you mentioned. I find that my rhythm often is somewhere in the 3 months range for when Big things happen. On a smaller scale, I get similar benefits with a day or a few days. I love how when we slow a bit and notice and listen, so much happens. 🙂
Sarah, this was such a blessing to read. I loved your thoughts on God not being in the loud, but in the mundane. That if we’re still moving we can consider it running. That you took a rest.
I did AJ’s Pinterest class several months ago and have seen results from it over and over again. It’s my biggest traffic referral! Also, Grace Goals is the foundation for MTO! Isn’t it wonderful how God brings us exactly who and what we need. He is sooo good to us.
I’m so glad your little one is healing. It must be so very heartbreaking at times.
You bless me, friend. Can’t wait to meet you in person!!
I love these! I’m learning/working on the fact that I need to prioritize my time better by putting first things first.
One thing I’ve learned this summer is that I need to prioritize better. Much like you, I need to slow down and put good quality into what I’m doing rather than throwing things together.
Learning to listen has to be one of the greatest lessons any of us can ever learn. I’m glad you had a great season of listening (and will continue to!). It’s good to take breaks and refocus and refresh.
I love this so much Sarah! I too learned a lot about resting and listening at She Speaks. So much power and wisdom in that. For me it is something I have to be very intentional about bc I am kind of a busy, 90 miles an hour, kinda gal. Thank you for reminding me to keep it slow and steady. I love that you homeschool, as we do too. I’d love to connect with you more about that. I need an accountability partner in that area. Thanks for linking up with #JesusandCoffee this week. Hope to see you again next week!
It’s kind of ironic that we have to work so hard at learning to rest and be quiet before the Lord. That really emphasizes how it important it truly is. I mean, if it didn’t matter, the enemy wouldn’t work so hard to keep us from doing it, right?
Thanks for these great thoughts!
This summer I have learned that I love books, but even more, I love free books! Free books for Kindle, free books to do book reviews on, free books from the library, and free books won in simple contests online. I love dark chocolate too, but I haven’t found a way to get that free yet.
We, too have pulled back from a lot in order to prioritize stillness and being present together as a family. We are also home schoolers…I will check out the link to the podcast you shared. Thanks for sharing the value of slowing down to listen with us. I appreciate you linking up at #TeaAndWord last week, friend. I will treasure your words here. +
I so enjoyed your post! Thanks for sharing. Finding motivation can often be a struggle for me, so I will have to check out Grace Goals. The Read Aloud Revival Podcast sounds interesting too!