5 Reminders

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Good morning, my baby. I'm so grateful that you're here. Before we get into this week's conversation, let's give ourselves permission to be here. If you're driving, I want you to keep your eyes on the road, but relax your shoulders for me. If you're at home, let yourself settle into wherever you are. You know, the laundry can wait, the emails can wait, the to-do list that isn't going anywhere over the next few minutes that can wait as well. Because this moment is yours. Now, let's take a deep breath together. Breathe in. Hold it. Now slowly let it go. Again, breathe in. And breathe out. One last time. A slow breath in. And a slow breath out. You know, this morning I don't I don't want to give you a lesson. I simply want to leave you with five gentle reminders to carry you into this week. You know, life has a way of bringing in noise, of being loud. People need things, our schedules get full, our minds start racing. You know, before we know it, we've drifted so far away from ourselves that we don't realize we left ourselves behind. So whenever this week begins to feel heavier than it needs to, I want you to come back to these five reminders and let's begin. The first into reminder is this. You know, I don't have to carry this whole week today. Monday has a funny way of convincing us that we have to solve everything before noon. We start thinking about the meetings on a Wednesday, the bills due on a Friday, the phone call that we've been avoiding, you know, that doctor's appointment next week, the conversation that we need to have, and somehow we manage to turn one day into seven. And my baby, today is only asking that you be present for today. There is enough waiting for you today without borrowing from tomorrow. You don't have to rush away through this morning trying to get to Friday. I want you to just live for today. And when Tuesday gets here, you'll meet Tuesday. But today I just need you to be here. So I need you to take another breath. The second gentle reminder is this I will move with intention instead of reacting to everything around me. You know, I've learned that there's a big difference between living intentionally and simply responding to whatever life throws at you. Sometimes, you know, we wake up and before we've had a chance to even gather ourselves, everybody else has already decided how our day is going to go. You know, that phone rings, the notifications start, someone needs a favor, something doesn't go according to our plans, and before long, you know, we're just reacting. But you know, intention says, I'm going to choose how I'm going to respond. I'm going to choose what deserves my attention. I'm going to choose where my energy goes, and everything doesn't deserve a response. Everything doesn't deserve your peace. Everything doesn't deserve access to your day. I need you to be intentional this week. I'm not asking you to be perfect. I'm just asking you to be intentional. The third reminder is this. Baby, what is meant for me would never require me to abandon myself. Sometimes we work so very hard to hold on to people and opportunities and places that we slowly stop recognizing ourselves for who we really are. You know, we tend to overextend and we get ourselves into the space of overexplaining. We ignore our own discernment. We become smaller just to fit inside spaces that were never built for us, and then we wonder why we are so very tired. You should never have to leave yourself behind just to keep something that's truly not meant for you. If you have to constantly portray your peace, silence all of your needs, question your worth or pretend you're okay when you're not. Maybe that cost is way too high. What's meant for you should have room for you to remain you. The fourth gentle reminder is this. I will protect my peace without apologizing for it. Oof, I'm gonna say that one again. I will protect my peace without apologizing for it. You know, peace isn't something that you just kind of stumble upon. Maybe it's something that you decide, something, you know, that you protect. And sometimes protecting your peace and saying no. Sometimes it looks like putting your phone down. Sometimes it looks like leaving the conversation before it turns into an argument. And sometimes protecting your peace looks like giving yourself permission to rest without feeling guilty for any of it. Maybe you don't owe exhaustion to anybody. You don't have to prove your worth by how tired and depleted you appear to be. Protect what allows you to keep showing up as the best version of yourself. The fifth and final reminder is this. I can trust God with what I cannot see while being faithful with what He's placed in front of me today. And baby, listen, I know that that is very hard. I know there are prayers you are still waiting to see answered. I know there are questions you wish to come with some kind of timeline. I know there are doors you've been asking God to open, but you know, while you're waiting. Baby, I don't want you to overlook what's already in your hands. There is still life to be lived while you're waiting, people to love, moments to enjoy, lessons to learn, and still reasons to laugh. I don't want you to allow tomorrow's uncertainty to rob today's joy. I want you to be faithful with what's in front of you. I want you to trust God with everything that you've got now. Before we leave one another this morning, let's remember our five gentle reminders. I don't have to carry this whole week today. I will move with intention instead of reacting to everything around me. What is meant for me would never require me to abandon myself. I will protect my peace without apologizing for it, and I can trust God with what I cannot see while being faithful with what He's placed in front of me today. Can I leave you with this prayer? Father, thank you for allowing us to see another Monday. As we begin this week, please help us remember these gentle reminders whenever life becomes very, very noisy. Give us wisdom to move with intention, the courage to protect our peace, patience to stay present, and faith to trust you with the things we cannot yet understand. Order our steps, guard our hearts, and remind us that we never walk into a single day alone. May this week be filled with moments that draw us closer to you and closer to the people you've called us to become. Amen. My baby, I hope this week is gentle with you. And baby, if it isn't, I hope you're gentle with yourself. I'll see you next week, next Monday, for another gentle reminder.