This was to be written in January. Forgive me in my own procrastination and “busyness”.
January is usually a slower month for me. In years past I use to hate January. Christmas is over. It’s depressing and cold. Dark and Gloomy. Long. But recent years I’ve used it for its good. To slow down. Stay in more. Reflect, be more aware of all the good around me, look forward and prepare for the hustle and bustle of the rest of the year. As I was doing yoga one morning in January the instructor said, “Stop and Be”. That really resonated and burned into my Brain since that day. Speak both words aloud. STOP & BE. It reminds me of when Grandma always said, “stop and smell the roses”. With our world today we have so many distractions for our time… multiple social media platforms, tv, work, emails, texts etc to keep us “busy”. We have FOMO (fear of missing out) and comparing our lives to each other trying to do the best, be the best, be the most beautiful, be everywhere and into everything that it robs us of what truly is important. Our culture now makes it almost impossible to “stop and be” and that if we do we are doing something wrong almost.
Remember back in 2020 when the world “Stopped” and stood still for a moment? In the moment perhaps we were worried about what was to come but God is ALWAYS in control. I knew then that that time too would pass and we would be Looking back (not wishing for Covid by no means) but wishing for that time that stood still again.
Time with God and our true friends and family, relationships and rest are what’s most important in life. So in this writing I wanted to stress deeply how it’s so important to not get caught up in our society’s distractions and to say it’s ok to “Stop and Be” every month! Not just in January. We must take Grandma’s advice to stop and smell the roses because we will wake up one day and the “roses” be gone. What she was stressing so is that the world does not stop. WE must stop and be present and enjoy what’s in front of us because time flies. It does not slow down for anyone.
I challenge you in every month this year not just January to “Stop and Be”, listen to Grandma, stop and smell the roses, be present, reflect on the good things and look forward to the things to come. And trust me…good things are coming!
Psalm 46:10 Be Still and know that I am God.
Exodus 20:8-10 Remember the Sabbath and keep it Holy.
Psalm 23:2-3 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet waters,
He restores my soul.
Psalm 118:24
This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Philippians 3:14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.