Lucia is my little 5 year-old baker. She really is so happy when she's baking or cooking, or doing something creative in the kitchen. She's taken to making sure she does every part of the recipe on her own, with as little of Mama's measuring or helping as possible. And little by little, she's really completing them on her own! We've made this same banana chocolate chip muffin recipe quite a few times. As she was stirring up the mixture, I realized something must have been missing. It just didn't seem right. Sort of just talking to myself, I wondered aloud what it could be. "Applesauce." I quietly heard from my little stirrer. And sure enough. We had forgotten the applesauce!
The more we focus on the things we're passionate about, the more we do them and absorb the experience, the more we just know what we need when its missing. I can see for me, when I've been working on what I'm passionate about this winter, I've been forgetting what I'm missing. And that's joy.
I had to laugh when Eva pointed out that our new chalkboard, which was one diy mishap after another was lingering over Lucia's shoulder. While I didn't intend to have that glaring at us through the picture, it's a great contrast to my experience this past couple of months. There's Lucia, living in the passion, and doing what she loves to do. However, in the making of that chalkboard, I lost all inspiration and sense of fun. I spent way too much, and ended up buying and making something much simpler than I planned. Once it was up, I couldn't even really enjoy it. Something got lost in the process.
But then my eyes move back to the simplicity of the contented smile of Lucia's face. Finding joy in creating something, and enjoying doing what God obviously planted in her heart to love. And I'm reminded in this picture, that we can begin to lose focus on what really matters. When I'm busying myself to make our home a place of creativity, beauty and peace, am I missing these simple joys because I'm busy making (and re-making) something? When I'm busy teaching classes, am I taking on too many and in the midst of it losing the point? I have to admit at times this season, I've lost the point of it all: finding great joy in the things that He's created me to do, rather than feeling bogged down by them.
I've decided today to orient my perspective toward gratitude. Slowing down my mind purposefully, and thanking Him for the moments. Thanking Him for my little baker. And thanking Him that my chalkboard is done. ;)
