Last weekend, I happened to see something that almost always slips by me unnoticed.
I was leaving my mother-in-law’s house after spending the evening with her, my two sisters-in-law, and two long-time friends. We had a lovely girls night complete with fruit, goat cheese, chocolate, and a movie John would never watch with me. It was perfect.
As I got in my car and glanced down at my dashboard, I noticed the speedometer was at the 80,000 mile mark.
In fact, it read 80,001.
I guess it was a big milestone in the life of a car, another 10K miles under the hood.
But these literal milestones on my car usually pass by unnoticed. I don’t plan for them or wait for them. They don’t seem to be the kind of thing to celebrate.
When I thought back over the last 24 hours, I realized we had spend most of our time within the two square miles around our house. Most of the places I drive are regular, familiar destinations close to home.
Even though each of these small-moments over time have added up to 80,001 miles on my car, we don’t always have such an obvious way to mark the milestones when it comes to our lives.
I’m learning the importance of noticing the moments of my real life by saying no to hustle and yes to heart.
Tuesday has been my greatest teacher.
Because if the light of a Tuesday morning candle isn’t bright enough to light the room, a spotlight won’t be either.
If the home where we live on Tuesday doesn’t satisfy, we’ll find ourselves always searching but never quite finding.
If the work we do on Tuesday doesn’t feel important, we’ll find ourselves slaves to comparison, forgetting compassion.
If the people we live our lives with now aren’t sacred companions for us, we’ll find ourselves competing with everyone and connecting with no one.
If our souls long for more and bigger and refuse the Tuesday way, how will we ever fully share in the life of Christ who became less and arrived small?
My newest book, Simply Tuesday, officially releases in the US today.
The last time I released a book, I had a full travel schedule around the time it came out. For some authors that works beautifully – but for me it led to a frantic feeling of rush and an inability to focus and be fully present.
This time I decided to stay close to home during book launch week which seems fitting for a book about smallness.
These days I’m careful not to color the word “small” in negative shades, as if it were something to run from or escape. I want to start small because I’m human and dependent, not in hopes that my small will grow into something bigger.
Jesus will give me the grace to stay there even when it hurts and even when it’s hard.
Small things don’t always turn into big things. But all things begin small, especially in the Kingdom of God.
Acorns become oak trees.
Embryos become President.
Life starts with a breath.
Love starts with hello.
Tuesday reminds me to accept the beauty of smallness, hiddenness, and the secret work of Christ in the deepest part of who I am.
So let’s take back quiet conversation with friends, whispered prayer over sick babies, belly laughter around the dinner table.
Let’s take back the honor of small donations, small care packages, and small movements toward fellow image-bearers because love isn’t measured in inches, grand gestures, or dollar amounts.
Let’s take back moments that are lovely even if they are imperfect, words that are powerful even if only one person hears them, company that is meaningful even when we don’t say any words at all.
Let’s take back our Tuesdays, the smallest day of the week. Because this is where we live and where our people live. Let’s release our obsession with building a life and trust in the life Christ is building within us, one small moment at a time.
I’m so excited this book is finally available (at least here in the US!)
Would you like help in taking back your own Tuesdays? Here are a few simple ways:
Pick up your copy of Simply Tuesday wherever books are sold in the US: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, CBD, DaySpring, or anywhere else you can find it.
Sign up here today for a free, four-video series we made for you where I will share practical ways to help you create space for your soul to breathe, even in the midst of your busy life.
Join us every Tuesday on Instagram and share a simple moment from your regular life. Hashtag it using #itssimplytuesday so we can see your moment and celebrate our smallness together.
Happy Tuesday, friends.
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