{"id":1080,"date":"2018-01-06T22:20:42","date_gmt":"2018-01-06T22:20:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.katiepolski.com\/?p=1080"},"modified":"2018-01-06T22:23:44","modified_gmt":"2018-01-06T22:23:44","slug":"dont-do-just-be-written-for-encourage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/katiepolski.com\/?p=1080","title":{"rendered":"Don’t Do, Just Be"},"content":{"rendered":"

Written for enCourage<\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

My youngest has many words, and my husband and I are the primary receiver of these words throughout the day.\u00a0 Every-little-once-in-a-while<\/em>, the amount of words brings us close to lunacy.\u00a0 Here is a text I received from my husband a few weeks ago regarding my youngest and her verbal processing:<\/p>\n

\"\"So many words.\u00a0 And most of the time, I love it.\u00a0 She is a nine-year old who is full of energy and curious about the world around her.\u00a0 The kind of questions I receive from her are remarkable:\u00a0 How come Adam and Eve didn\u2019t listen to God? Who made sin? Does God control me or do I control myself? <\/em>And most importantly\u2026Why didn\u2019t the Mona Lisa smile?\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

And there are about 10000 more of those.<\/p>\n

What I don\u2019t always love is the incessant nature of the questioning, similar to a text I recently received from this nine-year old:<\/p>\n

\"\"So, her inquiry about the Mona Lisa\u2019s lack of emotion was not merely a simple question.\u00a0 Instead, it sounded more like this:\u00a0 Mom, mom, are you listening, mom? Hello, Mom?\u00a0 \u00a0I\u2019m wondering about something that I\u2019ve been wondering about for a long time. Maybe forever, mom. \u00a0And I couldn\u2019t sleep because I\u2019ve been wondering about it. Mom, are you listening?!?\u00a0 Mom, I couldn\u2019t sleep because I was wondering about my question, mom. Mom!\u00a0 It\u2019s just that\u2026MOM! I\u2019m just wondering why the Mona Lisa didn\u2019t smile? Mom, did you hear that question? Do you know why, Mom?\u00a0 Mom, why?\u00a0 Why didn\u2019t the Mona Lisa smile, Mom? MOM!\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>That\u2019s what pushes me into lunacy.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s during these frantic moments of questioning and inquiring and yelling and calling out, MOM<\/em>! that I want to scoop her up, hold her tight, and tell her to just be still.\u00a0 <\/em>Take a deep breath, and be still.<\/p>\n

Instead, I often impatiently answer with, \u201cJust <\/em>ask your dad!\u201d\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

It\u2019s this desire to calm her that led me to think about my own longings as we enter into a new year. With the anticipation of new beginnings on the calendar, I like to reflect on what it is I need to do in the coming year. What do I need to change? What areas need improvement?\u00a0 This time, my reflections led to a different kind of realization. In this new year, I need to do <\/em>less and be <\/em>more.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t Do, Just Be<\/strong><\/p>\n

In their new album, \u201cSongs of Experience,\u201d <\/em>U2 has a song called \u201cLandlady.\u201d\u00a0 In one of the lines, a loved one whispers to lead singer, Bono, \u201cDon\u2019t do, just be.\u201d \u00a0<\/em>As a \u201cdoer,\u201d that concept is nearly foreign to me. I relate more to my nine-year old\u2019s frantic energy than I care to admit as my mind races as fast as the words come out of her mouth. I have many busy thoughts of what needs to be done next, and what child needs to be where and when, and then there are the anxious and relentless \u201cwhat-ifs\u201d that plague my mind and heart.<\/p>\n

There is so much doing <\/em>that needs to happen on a regular basis between papers, dinners, deadlines, and other responsibilities, that the thought of just \u201cbeing\u201d sounds <\/em>appealing, but what does it actually look like? How is it possible to escape the frantic whirlwind when, like my daughter, there are times when I want to scream out in the midst of my frenzied schedule and troubled thoughts: Lord!\u00a0 Are you listening?\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

Be What?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cBe still<\/strong>, and know that I am God.\u201d\u00a0 (Psalm 46:10)<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>The feeling I have in wanting to scoop up my daughter and calm her spirit is exactly what Jesus is doing in this Psalm. He enwraps His children through these treasured words and reminds us that He <\/em>is our refuge, He <\/em>is our help when we feel troubled.\u00a0 We have nothing to fear in his embrace, no matter what comes our way in the new year. Whether we face deep challenges in parenting, struggle through the effects of injustice, experience transitions in our churches or jobs, or feel devastated by difficult news, in each of these circumstances, the Lord commands us: \u201cBe still and KNOW that I am God.\u201d\u00a0 Know <\/em>that He is greater than your deepest fears. Know <\/em>that He is Sovereign over every aspect of your existence.<\/p>\n

Of all the activities that pull for our attention, there is none more important than seeing the marvels of God, but how easy they are to miss when we don\u2019t take the time to be still from our words, thoughts, and actions.<\/p>\n

For those of us who tend to be doers, in this new year, perhaps we need to set aside our traditional resolutions and resolve instead to stop doing <\/em>so much, and spend longer periods of time being <\/em>in the presence of Jesus. Step out of the frantic moments of schedules and questions, take a deep breath, and feel the tight embrace of your Savior as He reminds you to stop<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Be Still.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>And Know that He is God.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Written for enCourage\u00a0 My youngest has many words, and my husband and I are the primary receiver of these words … <\/p>\n

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