The Secret to Abundant Life
There is always another floor to sweep, another closet to arrange, the yard to mow, the thing to repair.
We are never done, but we keep working like we think we can get done.
And life gets crowded with the essentials and we lose our smiles.
And kindness.
And we become more automatic than full, creative, life-filled creatures.
“I have come that you may have life and have it more abundantly.”
Abundant life.
That’s not better cars and bigger houses and more vacations.
In fact, there’s irony in “abundance.”
The more we have the more we have to keep up with and repair and maintain.
Abundance is a fullness of life, only possible through the grace and love our Lord Jesus can give us.
It’s a spiritual abundance that fills us with security and peace, knowing that even if it doesn’t all get done, there is more to life than my check list. This life will end and we will go to scoop up our stored treasures.
Abundance spills out of me onto those around me. And even while I must do the daily things that beckon me, they don’t own me and that knowledge gives me back my smile and lets me remember the most important things in life–
the people here.
Smile first, hug always, never be too busy to listen–really, forgive no matter what, and follow the prompting that tells you to “stop and love” and your life will grow into abundance.
Related posts:
christian living, motherhood | Word Warrior | 
August 7, 2010 6:02 pm
Audio available soon!
Thanks so much for this – I really needed the reminder today.
Thank you for the sweet reminder!
“We are never done, but we keep working like we think we can get done.
And life gets crowded with the essentials and we lose our smiles. And kindness.” What a wonderful way to put things into perspective, Kelly! It helps me not put unrealistic expectations on myself, and instead remember to find out day by day, and even moment by moment, what GOD expects of me right then. And since we know that God is love, that’s a very good starting point to finding out what God expects of us…
Fantastic post!!!!!!!! THANK you so much for the important reminder!!!!
Heather
Thanks so much for this. Life has suddenly screeched to a halt in my house, yet the world keeps spinning outside. Things are getting neglected around the house as we deal with my husband’s serious illness. Thankfully, he is on the mend and things’ll start spinning again. In the meantime, I’m trying hard not to be discontented.
I read this after a morning of playing games and tickle fests, a relaxing afternoon at the beach with picnic lunch, leftovers for supper, and family movie night…thank you Kelly, for your continued ministering to the hearts of women everywhere…and…CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
PS: LOVED the watermelon pictures. We ate a whole watermelon in our house today…and thought of those precious babies in your last post….
Great post…really encouraging! Something I’ve actually been thinking a lot about too.
I feel the same way!
Perfect post, and perfect timing for me! I’ve got a precious two week old baby girl and a house full of sick children and even a sick husband. I’m trying to keep myself and baby from hetting sick while caring for my other children and husband. Last week our house flooded. It has just been one thing after another and I am having a hard time keeping myself in check. I’m going to throw a smile on and hug my children this morning. My husband too. Thanks Kelly!!!
Oh my heart goes out to you! I’ll be praying for you and your family! This post is very timely for me too! Thank you again Kelly!
One of my favorites, Kelly! I’ve saved about seven of your best articles now
And that doesn’t even include some of the poetry, which I’ve also saved separately (including your quote about judging).
Thank you so much!!!! I have been reading your blog for awhile and I have to tell you how much I appericate everything!
Thank you! “Stop and love”- I am praying the Lord will bring those words to rememberance today along with “choose joy” and “praise is a magnet and a motivator”. Thank you so much for sharing. I need this today.
You are such a jewel.
This is such a great reminder, and one I really needed to hear!!
Thank you for writing this post Mrs. Crawford. It’s so true that we ‘we become more automatic than full, creative, life-filled creatures.’, and this post is a reminder to me to not to let myself do it so easily. Thank you for your faithfulness to your family and to God. The world needs more women like you.