Catching Up, Slowly but Surely

The Infamous Never-Ending To-Do List

JUNE-My apologies

JULY-My apologies

Here we are in mid-August and I'm just catching up! I got so behind on things; and sometimes that's very hard to admit. Even having to apologize can be extremely difficult because it feels like an admission of failure; but I am learning that grief doesn't just affect your heart and your emotions- it touches your everyday life-That includes your daily routines, responsibilities and the ability to "just keep up"

After a life-altering event even the smallest tasks can feel overwhelming. If you're anything like me you may be currently looking at a cluttered room, unanswered messages, missed goals and canceled appointments. Whew! Typing this out brings it all to life. Nevertheless, I must keep reminding myself that grief has a way of slowing things down and draining our energy. I mean think about it; The trauma of losing someone pulls from every ounce of your being. What was once simple can now look impossible.

BUT IT'S OKAY! Being behind is NOT a sign of weakness- to the contrary...I believe catching up or even maintaining is a huge sign of strength. God is not standing over you with a stopwatch. He is very well aware of what you are going through and he is right there with you. With him you are not measured by your productivity. In Isaiah 40:29, scripture reminds us that "he gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak" Increases the power of the weak...Now that bares repeating. I'm so grateful I don't have to operate in my own power but I have a father that increases power and strength for me when I am depleted! Whewww!

So when you are ready to begin tackling the never-ending list of "to-do's", try starting small versus stressing yourself out with the entire list all in a day. Start with the most important things first, congratulate yourself after each checked-off item, then on to the next! Don't worry about tomorrow, just let tomorrow worry about itself. (That's Bible).. Matthews 6:34 to be exact.

This gives us permission to do one email, one phone call, and one load of laundry at time. If you need to add in some time for grief, go right ahead. Include an ugly cry if necessary. Jesus is walking right there with you and he's got the bottle ready for those tears. (Psalms 56:8)

Guilt tries to shame us into doing more, more, and more. It tries to have us feel down about not being able to keep up, but grace!... and knowing who we are in Christ frees us from feeling like we are only as good as our performance and productivity.

I pray by now you feel relieved, and your shoulder feels a bit lighter. I hope your plate just got "a little emptier."

Here are some tips I hope will help throughout our upcoming weeks. Yes, I said "our" as I continue to encourage myself in God right along with you!

Some practical tips:

Set a timer for 10 or 15 minutes and do one task without pressure.

Use a notebook to brain-dump everything on your mind—it helps reduce mental clutter.

Ask for help—God often sends people to support us in community.

And above all, stay in honest conversation with God. Tell Him how you feel, even when it’s messy. Philippians 4:13 reminds us, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” That includes grieving. That includes healing. And yes, that includes catching up—one step at a time, with God’s help.

I love y'all! Just incase no one else told you that today. Oh yeah, most importantly, God loves you more!