A mother working surrounded by her children.
Hello and welcome to the Blessed Little Life Blog. I am a storyteller, mother, writer, and wife. I believe in wild grace and sharing the beauty and the struggle and that one does not negate the other. This is my space to share bits of motherhood, creativity- the tension in between, and other stories on our journey. I hope you find some space to breathe here while you read.
About the Name...
This Blog was first launched two years ago as "Recovering Hope" because that summer (2015) I had received two devastating pieces of news that changed my world forever. One was a cancer diagnosis that led to surgery, the other far more personal and painful (more to come concerning this later this month!). Through both of these situations I learned that I placed hope in people, in things, in a job position, home and relationships, instead of completely in Jesus. I came to learn that nothing quite attacks your hope like pain, and nothing can cause you to doubt like pain either.
John 16:33" In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." Jesus warned us that we would have trouble and face challenges and difficulties but He paved the way by overcoming the worst physical, mental, and emotional pain any one could ever face. I believe His plan for our pain is for us to overcome too.
Psalm 103:1-5 "Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul and forget not all His benefits- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagles" This verse has provided me with much hope over the past two years. It tells me several things. "Who heals"... That God can heal, is able to heal, and wanting to heal. "Diseases" is not limited to the physical I believe this includes mental and emotional challenges also such as depression, anxiety, hopelessness. "Redeems your life from the pit"... Betrayal, pain, lies, these all feel like things that can send you into a dark place, a "pit". But no matter the situation, God can redeem and restore!
I believe healing is a two way street. That there is our part and Gods part and they both work together. I've learned that Healing isn't an "if" its just a matter of "when". I believe it can be instant or a process. In my own journey; physically and emotionally, I have found healing to be a process, that it comes in stages.
So why the name change? About a year ago when I renamed my Instagram (@theblessedlittlelife) I was thinking about how often we are told in our consumerism culture and by a society obsessed with success that we can have it all, be it all, do it all- if we just try hard enough. With my newfound physical limitations and as someone who pushed themselves to brink physically for their job, I do not believe this too be true. I believe we can have a few things- that matter, that we can fight for only a few things to really be a priority in our lives.
Mathew 25:14-30 Is the parable of the three servants. The shortened version is that a master went on a long trip but gave three servants three different amounts of silver. One had 5 bags, one 2, one only 1. The one with 5 invested and earned five more. The one with 2 went to work and earned 2 more. But the one with 1 was scared and hid his in the ground. The first two were praised and since they were faithful with little they were given much more. But the one who hid his was called wicked and lazy. For those who use well what they have been given even more will be given. But those who do nothing will lose the little they have. When we share our stories it gives other's permission to do the same. When we are willing to go first, we pave the way for others to be free. I want to be faithful with the "little" that I have. Whether that's the role of wife, mother, etc. Or finding ways to serve through what I am passionate about- faith, motherhood, creativity, health, simple living. If the small sphere of influence I have or the one story I posess can be encouraging or life-giving to others, then I want to be faithful with it.
Will you join me on this celebration of recovery? Of living and being faithful with a "blessed little life"?
You can subscribe below. If you are on your own Journey of overcoming and would like to share I would love to hear about it! Click the contact link or e-mail theblessedlittlelife@gmail.com. I hope to share other stories of "recovering hope".