Do the next thing
Choosing to make change
Hello Friends
No matter how well organised you are, how well planned your days may be, or how horrible your personal circumstances may seem, we all have times when we are at a loss at how to start or what to do next. Elisabeth Elliot (missionary who lost her first husband to the Auca Indians in 1956) gave this advice: “Just do the next thing”. She (as well as 4 other missionary women) lost her husband and was propelled into widowhood with a 10-month-old baby while on a remote missionary station where she was the only white person and English speaker. She later lost her second husband to cancer (after only a few years of marriage) and outlived her third husband. Her talks on YouTube are inspirational.
Here are some small things you can do which will keep life moving forward:
praise God for His blessings
do the dishes
sweep the floor
hear the spelling words/timetables
stop and smile at your children
tell your children you love them
put a load of laundry in the machine
hang out the laundry on the line
get the washing in and fold it
clean the bathroom
sit in a chair and shut your eyes for 5 minutes, then get up and start the next thing
have a drink of water/cup of tea
make a fun lunch (arrange salad/sandwiches on plates in a crazy pattern just because it will make everyone smile)
stop school and read a story to your children
eat pizza for tea
get to bed early and get out of bed on time
ignore your phone
read/memorise one Bible verse
declutter for 5 minutes
spend 5-10 minutes putting things away and tidying the house
Don’t allow your circumstances to leave you frozen. Our natural human response may be to become immobile and quit but take your strength from God and just do the next thing, then the next thing, then the next thing. You will be amazed at how this will help you get through the times of tiredness, overwhelm, challenge, and trial. Keep looking up and take one forward step at a time.
Wishing you a wonderful week!
Until next time
Ruth