**SIMPLIFY**

 

What a great word, Simplify. 

What does it mean exactly? 

Well merriam-webster on-line says this:
 
a : to reduce to basic essentials 

b : to diminish in scope or complexity 

For my life this is a very elusive word! I wish it wasn't. But it is. I try almost on a daily bases to keep in mind this word, Simplify. I want a simple life. I think back to when my kids were small. Life, when looking back, was very simple. What happened?!?!? 

When the kids are little, you don't think your life is easy or simple. You are worrying about their future. What will they grow up to be? How will you pay for their college education? Will they follow Jesus? Will they marry the right person? Will they be happy? Will they give you grandchildren?!??!?!?!? Those are the BEST!!!! Worth waiting for!!!!


God doesn't want us to worry or stress about anything in life:
 
Matthew 6:25-27
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? (NIV)


Later in life as they grow up and set out on their own, you wish you could go back to the "simple" things in life, when they were little. Boy, oh, boy! How the world changes. I have figured out some things to do to "simplify" life. Now, you will notice I didn't say things I do well, just things I have noted would make life easier. 

Are you one of those people who doesn't know how to tell people "NO"? That is a great start. Pick and choose how you spend your time. Are you giving more than you should to everything in your life? We can give to so many around us that we only give a mediocre effort into many things. Narrow down what you give your time to and you will give a more quality effort. Yes, you will disappoint a few people, some will even get angry about your telling them no, but in the end it's your life and your time you are trying to get under control! So, you get to make the call!

I also think of the techno age we are living in. Our children (and grandchildren and ourselves for that matter) have so many things to do that doesn't require other people to be around! We can sit down at a computer or ipad or kindle or ipod or anything else you can think of, and not move for hours! That may seem simple but what toll does that take on the family unit? Do you have dinner together at least once a week as a family? Do you turn off the television and put away the phones and share a meal and family time to reconnect? If you don't, I highly recommend that you try it at least once a week and then try to work up to several times a week. Find out what is going on in each others lives. You might find out something about your kids you didn't already know!  And maybe even some things you really didn't want to know!

It's hard and there are so many things we can justify as important in our lives, that keep us from slowing down and smelling the roses!  You have to determine for yourself and your family if you really want to "Simplify" your lives. I for one am choosing to slow down and smell the roses. My grandsons LOVE to smell the roses!

It's time to re-prioritize our lives! Slow down! Sit on the porch a spell! Get to know yourself again!  You could discover some old interest that you have forgotten about. Oh, wait that would cause more doing! OK, now I must go prioritize my life! Just remember to enjoy your life and don't fill it up with "stuff"! Don't look up and realize your kids are grown and doing their own "things", without you! 

SIMPLIFY NOW! It will pay off in the long run!


What do you need to simplify in your life? Please, share in the hopes of helping others with their own "things". Then put it into practice and check back and let us know what is working and whats not.

God bless you and your efforts,
Sabrina