Good morning…
“I would rather be late than be yelling,” one wise young mom confessed a few years back, as she struggled to shift gears from summertime slow to school-year stress. Securing supplies. Earlier bedtime. Homework, half-days, and “have-to’s” galore. Between now and mid October, parents shepherding children to school from home will settle into a more steady autumn stride. Yet for a handful of hectic weeks, please use this permission slip as needed.
“To whom it may concern, ___________ maybe late while learning not to yell.” – God
To aid in our process of yelling less, I will type out the paraphrase of Psalm 23 included in our post from yesterday, I Shall Not Rush.
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The Lord Is My Pace Setter
The Lord is my pace setter … I shall not rush
He makes me stop for quiet intervals
He provides me with images of stillness which restore my serenity
He leads me in the way of efficiency through calmness of mind and his guidance is peace
Even though I have a great many things to accomplish each day, I will not fret, for his presence is here
His timelessness, his all importance will keep me in balance
He prepares refreshment and renewal the midst of my activity by anointing my mind with his oils of tranquility
My cup of joyous energy overflows
Truly harmony and effectiveness shall be the fruits of my hours for I shall walk in the Pace of my Lord and dwell in his house for ever.
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When we allow the demands of the world to set our pace, we quickly become frantic, frazzled, fuming. Our inner critic berates us, as tension grows before it blows. Once we notice ourselves yelling, it is a sure sign, “I have run ahead of my peaceful Pace Setter.”
When we accept God’s permission to not rush, we stop for quiet, restorative intervals. We focus our minds on the still and serene. We allow God to lead us through each full day, opening before us a creative way of efficiency. In our LORD’s ever-presence there is no need to fret. Our balance is grounded in the only God who is the same today, tomorrow, and for ever. As we accomplish our many activities our mind is tranquil, our energy is joyous, and harmony flavors the fruit of our hours. Dwelling at home with God as God dwells at home in us, we walk, step by step, in the peaceful pace of our LORD.
One of my favorite Bible verses now fills my mind: Better is a dry morsel [of food served] with quietness and peace than a house full of feasting [served] with strife and contention (Proverbs 17:1, AMP).
…Sue…
