allume

real light living

A Modern Proverbs 31 Story

By

allume_stine

Hands groggily find phones and slide alarms into the snooze position to steal a few more precious minutes of sleep. Eyes bleary, feet hit a chilly floor to find coffee and solitude in the early morning hours, before toddler wakes and demands are made. Padding down the hallway to find community on the other side of the screen, women and mothers and wives and friends who travel these same early morning hours to work, plan, pray, and cheer together. Silent feet slide over and around and avoid spots known for creaking and cracking, ninja-like mama skills on display.

I meet God in the darkness, in the weary “before” time of my day. He meets me there, over cups of coffee, laptop clicking, living Word on touchscreens and the Holy Spirit alive and present in my closet office. I embrace my role as a Proverbs 31 woman:

“First thing in the morning, she dresses for work, rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started. She senses the worth of her work, is in no hurry to call it quits for the day.” (Proverbs 31, MSG)

It’s a modern day version, early rising to connect on Twitter and start my day with Jesus loving accountability sisters, rolling up sleeves to work a corporate job, no hurry to call it quits for the day because the late night hours are when the joy-work happens.

Then there are days when those feet make it out of bed with just enough time to head out the door. There are days when the “to do” list grows and the dishes aren’t cleaned and the toddler won’t listen (and all she says is “no”…all…the…time…). There are days when the countdown to bedtime means mama is SO in a hurry to call it quits for the day.

And I am thankful for grace.

The  heart-work is done in the spare hours, the ones leading up to brushing teeth, finding baby doll, and waiting the eight years it takes a toddler to slide down 14 stairs when her hands are full of all. the. things. that are essential for a ten minute car ride. There is weariness in those hours, but an exhausted joy that comes from knowing that this work? The reason my sleeves are rolled up before the sun has peaked over the horizon? This is what God had in mind me for me from the very beginning. I am created for this work.

My cup runs over in the late hours, typing words that make souls stronger, planning and encouraging and writing and saying yes to my dreams. In the hours after lights are off, dinner is away, the bathtime bubbles have been stomped and little girl is snuggled asleep for the night. I’m in no hurry to call it quits for the day when I know the pouring into I receive when I pour out what God has put on my heart. The dream-work doesn’t get done during the mundane hours of 9-5. It happens in the sacrifice, the bleary, weary eyes of one who can no longer strive on her own but goes on purely by the saving grace of a Father who holds doors open just enough to let hope shine through.

And so a cup of coffee is poured as sleeves are rolled up. It’s a new day, friends. Let’s get to work.

Comments

  1. Love. Just what I needed on this Sunday night that should find me well-rested and ready to go, but instead finds me exhausted and with a to-do list far too long. But, as you remind me – I am thankful for Grace and for purpose beyond what I would find for myself.

    • These weary days won’t last forever. But for now, we’ll thank God for a new day 🙂 And for coffee. Lots and lots of coffee.

  3. Crystal, you so touch my heart with your words. My son just turned 25 last week…these bleary days don’t last forever. Thank you for taking time to share your heart with all of us. I know you have many things pulling at you from all sides.
    Hugs~
    Mary

    • Sweet friend, that means so much. I love having women – mamas – in my life who have walked those sleepy steps and can be my hope that these precious days aren’t forever 🙂

  5. Love this…thank you for sharing, friend. I just signed up for Hello Mornings today…I’m not a morning person at all, but I think I need this group and the accountability. (And, p.s. I smiled so big when I saw you on the (in)RL webcast this weekend.) 🙂

  6. Oh my gosh! What a wonderful post! I cannot express enough how much I needed to read it. The Holy Spirit led me right to it. Just last night, I was talking with my hubby about how overwhelmed I feel trying to find time to write in between working out of the home full-time, meal planning and cooking, keeping the house neat (UGH – not doing a very good job in this department). And then, here is this post. It is like a cool cup of water on a hot, humid day. Thank you so much for giving me the strength to keep on keeping on!! God is SO good – just love Him to pieces!

    I cannot wait for Allume this October – will be there with bells on! Have a blessed day, ladies! <

  7. Crystal, this is just beautiful. You have my heart here, friend. Just, thank you. Love your heart, so much. Will be keeping this close today: “I’m in no hurry to call it quits for the day when I know the pouring into I receive when I pour out what God has put on my heart.”

  8. Crystal! That last paragraph just grabbed my heart so tightly. Sometimes, I find it’s me who’s holding tightly to all. the. things. And taking my sweet time to do something that should be done much more quickly. On those days where we are all SO in a hurry to call it quits, I pray God imbues us with a little Extra Whatever it is that we need to make it on through. Joyfully. Loved this post!

Trackbacks

Categories

Archives

Google+