In my head, November has a big sign hanging over it with helium-filled balloons, spelling out Welcome to the Crazy! To be fully present and engaged during the holiday season is one of my biggest challenges. There doesn’t seem room to celebrate what is while anticipating what is to come. Things simply have to get done.
This past year, I have purposed to slow down and notice what is real and true this day: the messy (because a pile of pink laundry means two healthy girls live here),
the lovely (because if I don’t look I won’t see),
and the unexpected: both good,
and not so good.
To celebrate the loud moments with child-like enthusiasm,
and to receive truth in the quiet when the time comes.
It takes effort to be present on purpose and to see beyond the messy living room in order to appreciate the beauty of family and togetherness. For me, the simple act of noticing inevitably leads to thankfulness.
Would you like some extra encouragement during this busy season to slow down and celebrate smallness? Each Tuesday, a small community of women write a post on their blogs to do just that: to celebrate the beauty in the midst of the chaos. They all link up at Chatting at the Sky and we call it Tuesdays Unwrapped. We would love for you to join us.
You could also join Ann Voskamp’s Gratitude Community, where they celebrate One Thousand Gifts; not gifts wanted, but gifts already in hand.
Or visit Melissa of The Inspired Room on Fridays, where she hosts A Beautiful Life series, encouraging us to take small steps toward making our life and home beautiful.
Give yourself permission to take the time to unwrap the small, secret gifts of the everyday; to see the moments that may have otherwise disappeared under the pile of daily tasks. What is real and true this day? Discover and receive it with thanks.
ABOUT EMILY FREEMAN
Emily Freeman is a writer who encourages girls of all ages to create space for their souls to breathe. She is the author of Grace for the Good Girl (Revell). She and her husband live in North...
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Great reminder, Emily, on what is truly important in life. I need to look past the messy living room and relish in all the room for living this family has and does. Praise God for writers like you…y’all truly encourage!
gosh… and it got even better over here!
this tuesday gal is ever so thankful for your urgings to look and see.
here it is! :)
lovely photos and thank you for doing this every week. If it was just once, we’d have all spent a few days noticing and being thankful. Because you do it each week, I get my gentle reminder to pay attention, appreciate, and live slowly.
I agree, Emily! Ive thought about doing it once a month…but the regularity of it helps me so much. Im so glad you feel the same.
“It takes effort to be present on purpose and to see beyond the messy living room in order to appreciate the beauty of family and togetherness. For me, the simple act of noticing inevitably leads to thankfulness.” … i love your words, emily.
they mirror a recent speaker at our church, Sally Breedlove, who brought conviction to my heart about being in a state of “constant partial attention”, a hallmark of our culture today. she went on to say how we as women often call it multitasking and are proud of it. ouch. oh, what we are unwittingly give up in our inability to look beyond the task, the schedule, the, shall we say, “lived in” living room… it does take work, but as you said, the rewards are beautiful and the richness of engaging my heart in thankfulness is unbeatable.
Emily, this was truly beautiful and inspiring, and is the reason I joined a while back. It is an honour to join such a caring group of good loving souls. A community . In thankfulness.
The holiday season is the craziest — I already feel myself bracing for it! But your post today reminded me to take a deep breath and try to slow down and appreciate. That’s what I love so much about Tuesdays Unwrapped. Tuesday has become my favorite day of the week — thanks to you!
Thanks Emily! I’ve really been enjoying unwrapping Tuesdays with you – even when I don’t get it blogged!
Just love it! Love your weekly unwrapped goodies. Your photos are breathtaking!
adornedlife! I love Sally Breedlove. In fact, her book “Choosing Rest” is one of the things that originally inspired me to focus more on rest of heart about 3 years ago. So glad to see you got to hear her speak as well!
Love the Hot Burger
Love it!!!
I love this…so much so that I just added my post over at Unwrapped Tuesdays :)
Thanks for making me pause for a moment of praise.
Sweet Blessings,
Kate :)
Oh how lovely!
Cxx
Thanks sweet Emily for all you to to encourage us to see the beautiful moments in life…thank you for the mention too, you are always so gracious!
blessings!
I love this idea and I love how you presented it… The “welcome” sign for me was hung on Oct 1, so I am so in need of making the effort. Thank you!
Actually, Nester, I’ve been calling it a Ham Dog.
A very precious reminder! I needed that.
Thank you.
It’s hard to be at peace….and be still with “stuff” going all dirctions around us.
I have a new perspective because of you!
Blessings!
What a blessing you are!
Love the pics. Love the thoughts!
The hot dog in a hamburger bun is a metaphor for my entire life, Emily, you do realize that.
Ham Dog is a zillion times better than Hot Burger. You have such a way with words…
I’ve seen progression in every post. Your newer posts are simply wonderful compared to your posts in the past. Keep up the good work!