The alarm is set to seven in the morning, but my body listens to the sun barely waking up over the horizon and together we start the day. I fumble around for my glasses, slow-motion my way out of bed, into my robe, and tiptoe into the darkness of the house. It’s quiet and still, and I breathe in the peace of the morning with a deep sigh.
I walk to the kitchen to brew our favorite hazelnut coffee, and as I go through the motions of filling the coffeemaker, I’m overcome by how much I love this, all of this – the life I have, in this home, with my family, in our suburb. It’s altogether strange and wonderful considering how far from this I’d felt for years.
For most of my life, I considered suburbia to be too curated, too boring, too suffocating. To my passionate young self who wanted to live a missionary’s life overseas as I had done growing up, the idea of settling down in a comfortable, convenient place was out of the question for my future. But for some unknown reason, God considered it right and good to bring me back to this place and for me to call it home. Even the mundane rhythms of mothering and homemaking that I once despised have become the very things that keep me grounded and at peace. And the most surprising part has been my renewed love for my local church and her people, my people.
I’m genuinely content and, dare I even say, happy. It’s a strange statement to say out loud, but I’m receiving its truth with tender care. But as I wonder how I got here, I’m beginning to name what shifted for me to see things the way I do now.
One thing I can point to is my decision to be rooted where I am, to choose to love the place I’m in and the people I do life with inside and outside my home. Sometime after the thick of pandemic grief, I started saying that I want to create flourishing wherever I go, wherever I am, and that perspective has changed the way I see myself in my current circumstance. Instead of weighing how much I’m giving up to be where I am against what I’m gaining in return, I simply live fully as I am and offer myself wholly and authentically to the world that is. It’s living and loving generously, vulnerably, and graciously, and my goodness, is it life-giving.
I think of Jeremiah 29:4-7: “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: ‘Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.’”
Perhaps these words were difficult to comprehend for the exiles who were displaced in Babylon. “How, God?” they may have pleaded. And this is what I hear the Lord saying to them, to me, to us: “One thing at a time – build, plant, settle in. Be rooted where you are. Live your life, and invest in the flourishing of the place you’re in, of the people you’re with.”
And one day soon, you’ll wake up and go through the motions of a very ordinary day and see that the seeds of flourishing you sowed are blooming into an abundant garden of life and joy right where you are.
Grace, this was so helpful. I am trying to love my new surroundings but… I keep thinking if only I can fix it up to look the way I want it, if only it was closer to the town where most of my friends live, if only, if only. This last move has been so hard but it was for the best. At least I think so. Too late to change my mind now. You write “one thing at a time – build, plant settle in. Be rooted where you are.” My word for this year is rooted! Hmm.
Oh I love that that’s your word for the year! And yes, one thing at a time. Look for the small things… look low to the ground… to the ordinary. I hope you find one thing that reminds you of God’s presence so that you can build, plant, and settle in to where you’re at.
I am praying this principle for my hubs & myself that we might flourish where we are, not longing for the next stage of retirement that is looming yet oh so far away! Thanks for this wonderful encouragement! Blessings!
Yes, flourishing in the seasons we’re currently in — I’m learning that as well.
A beautiful, uplifting post that to me says, be thankful where you are.
This s exactly how I feel every single day! Thankful, grateful, joyful and content!
Grace so well spoken. It makes me so thankful to be blessed to live in the part of world God has me live in with my Husband. God has me rooted here for a reason. That is to shine in everything I do and say for him. So the unsaved see God light shinning out from me in this part of the world I live in. Plus my unsaved family. As I am along with my Husband the only ones saved. The rest have and seem no notion of getting saved. They think everyone get to Heaven when you die. They can live as they like. So I know God has me rooted in this part of the world I live in. In Enniskillen Co.Fermanagh N.Ireland. To shine as I all ready said for my family and people in it to see Jesus in me if not saved. Want what I have that is to know Jesus for themselves. As they will be seeing Jesus shinning out of me as I am living my life the way he want me to. I say Anem to that. Love Dawn Ferguson-Little in my prayers all incourage xx
Wonderful, Dawn!
You’re speaking to me with this message. We relocated from my home state to my husband’s 7 years ago. The culture, weather, and landscape are completely different. It’s like we moved to a different world and traveled back in time. I hate it here. I don’t fit in and haven’t made any friendships with any depth. We’ve recently changed churches because the other one had no other kids in youth group other than our son – teenagers need community. Several kids from his school attend this church. But my husband isn’t enjoying the radically different choir structure and there’s almost no activity in the women’s ministries. I feel lost and homesick all the time. I put a “bloom where you’re planted” sticker on my laptop to try to help me re-focus. I don’t know what God wants me to do or be in this place. I’ve never heard someone share about similar feelings. Thank you and God bless you.
Oh, Tiffani, my heart broke reading your comment. Thank you for sharing. I’m praying that for each of you will find something to hold on to that reminds you of God’s presence where you’re at. For me, when I first moved here, I felt so suffocated, so I looked to the skies everyday to remind me that God is vast, not bound, and His presence is with me. He is there. He is with you. He will provide.
wow! Thank you for this reminder! My word for 2023 is rooted. Back in 2019 I felt God calling me to “put down roots and build community.” He reminded me, “we’re not meant to do life alone.” This came at a time I was trying to decide, what comes next? I was in a career that had me moving a lot! Five times in 10 years. It was exhausting. I welcomed the idea of putting down roots and building community! And of not doing life alone. I finally found that extraordinary, “ordinary” life you talk about. Then, I lost it all. And now I’m wondering if I heard God wrong? I don’t think I did. I’m counting on God to help me get that wonderful, ordinary life back. Right here, where I decided to put down roots and build community, back in the beautiful spring of 2019.
I’ve wondered if I heard God wrong too in my life, but I most times, I’ve heard correctly but jumped to conclusions about why He was leading to those places/things/people. I hope you can set your roots down and build community this year. And give yourself grace and time to do it.
Celebrating the place you are in your journey! Well done, Grace!
I love the peace, joy and contentment in ordinary days! I am finally learning to embrace my life, my home, my husband, our families and friends! Every good gift and every perfect gift comes down from my Father of Light and in Him no darkness at all! He has us at just the right place He needs and wants us to be! To everything there is a reason and a time for every purpose under the sun! AMEN!
Amen!
Meant to say…to everything there is a season!! Big oops typing on my phone!
I appreciate your post Grace. Thank you so much.
I am at a stage of life where the LORD has shown me that HE gives and takes away according to HIS Purpose and Plan.
My heart is filled with gladness, joy and peace as I continue to be grateful and thankful to the LORD.
Trusting HIM brings me contentment that HE is still using me, as HIS servant to serve, love and support others, so that they too will know our awesome GOD.
AMEN.
This is just what I needed to hear. Focusing on where I am rooted and planted and finding joy in what is mine and where God has placed me is so important. I appreciate your putting into words what rings true in my own heart.
Love this very foundational and appreciative perspective. Some one once said we should bloom where we’re planted. I think you said it more fully. Thanks
That’s Right! Could not thought of it better.
In our Korean church in Korea called Wooridle it is so called ” Living an repeatedly sometimes boring ordinary life is an extraordinary life such as eating meals everyday and doing chores at home”
Love that!
Grace,
Being rooted in life can sometimes be hard. Our biggest obstacle is our difficult hospital jobs. They are difficult hospital jobs. Covid changed the landscape of our work. Earlier this year I changed churches. 1) the drive to other church was long 30 minutes one way. 2) Our pastor & his wife retired. Now I attend church where hubby went as a youth. I have rooted myself by getting involved at the church & volunteering at Loaves & Fishes Food bank in town. I still dream of a different life. One with fewer stressors & more time together.
Blessings 🙂
I hope that in the midst of all the stressors that you’ll find moments of peace and hope, Beth!