The Simple Life Part 2- Just Be

07/30/2025

So, I’ve been trying out this simple/intentional living thing. I just had an aha moment while I was washing dishes that I didn’t want to be washing lol. When I was working outside of the home, I would sometimes run out of tasks to complete. I’d end up creating some other task for myself to do. I’d look around the classroom, or the storage closet, or wherever else to find something that could be done. It may not have been urgent. May not have been on anyone else’s radar, but I didn’t sit still. I always needed something else to put my hands and mind into. 

My aha! was that I carry that same mindset into homemaking. There is always something that can be done in and around the house. Of course, there is the homeschooling, and taking care of the kids' daily needs and wants. Then there is the cleaning, cooking (although I leave a lot of the cooking to my loveband). This year, I’ve been decluttering A LOT. There’s gardening, and whatever else my mind thinks of to keep this household running and efficient. 

Well, I have been running into moments where I don’t have anything (urgent) to do. And most of the time, I end up thinking hmm…what should I do? The kids are all occupied with their own projects, or imaginings, and I have a moment to myself. My tendency, of course, is to go through my mental to-do list (sometimes I have a physical one), and make a plan for those few minutes of calm. 

There have been a few times as of late, that I actually take that moment just to sit… and do nothing. That nothing quickly turns into my Tater Tot asking me to play a game, Little Genius asks me for some sort of adhesive, or something happens with one or all of the kids. But doing nothing for just a moment, actually feels really good. I can feel myself breathing. I can hear my thoughts clearly. I can enjoy the sounds of my children blossoming in their dynamic personalities. It’s so beautiful. I love those moments, and I want more of them. It really brings tears to my eyes, happy tears. Being able to just be with my babies, and with myself. I absolutely love it. 

This reminds me of a short conversation I was having after picking up my loveband from his weekly breakfast with one of our pastors. The topic of mentorship had kind of come up, and my thoughts were about just being in relationship. In my mind, and my loveband’s mind, mentorship feels like this big task. The mentor has to be profound and life-speaking. But that isn’t true. All a mentorship is, is a relationship. Two (or more) people living life together, supporting each other, exploring interesting topics together, or whatever they want/need it to informally look like. I told him to just be himself. God made him who he is for a reason. He doesn’t have to try to be anything else. Just be. 

It’s been fun learning how to just be again. When I lived in California, I would text one of my besties to see if she was busy. If she wasn’t I would ask if I could come and just be bored with her. Our time together wouldn’t actually be boring (at least not to me lol. Maybe she has some other thoughts on that.) Whether we just watched a show, ended up dancing or talking, I really enjoyed just being there with my friend, in relationship. Being there for each other was what was important. Being who she was is what I valued in her (and any relationship for that matter). 

The same goes for our relationship with God. He has already made us who we are. He’s given us the personality, and life experiences to be who we are for exactly this moment. We do not need to be profound. We do not need to be grand. Whether rich or poor, Black or White, tall or short, your life speaks. Your life says what it needs to say to you. Your life says what it needs to say to everyone else. 

“Take my life and let it be…” There’s this song that just popped into my head. I had to look it up because that first part is all I remembered. It’s a hymn, by Frances Ridley Havergal, we used to sing at church in Hawthorne, CA. It says…

“Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee. 

Take my moments and my days; 

Let them flow in endless praise,

Let them flow in endless praise.”

It’s a beautiful song (if you like the old hymns). Apparently, this Frances guy, or whoever gathered this particular book of hymns, published it in 1874! Whoo!

Anywho, that’s what I’m feeling right now. Let my life just be. Just like the flowers and the sun simply exist and serve their God-given purpose, let me do the same. In everything I do and everything I am, let it give glory and praise to the Almighty God, who created me and this wonderful world we live in.