Bloom where you are planted. I like this phrase and have often used it is an inspirational anthem during different seasons of my life.  But, here’s the deal, what if you weren’t meant to bloom where you  are currently planted.  What if you need to go through some “roll up your sleeves, get some serious- hard to get out- dirt in your fingernails” type of seasons in order to be replanted somewhere else where you will thrive and flourish?  What if blooming is not in His plans right now?  What if sacrifice, hard work, contentment, self-discovery, and patience our on the agenda for this time period?  What if God wants us to move into action before blooming can take place? Instead of blooming maybe He just wants us to remain hopeful during some seasons.  Hopeful that growth is just beyond the horizon.  Hopeful that we will thrive in a new place and time.  Hopeful that His promises are true that “He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it”.  This “work” requires pruning and patience before true, beautiful, life-changing growth can occur. 

I have an ivy plant growing in a vintage, white, wall mounted fixture in our atrium. There is a lion’s head on the curved top of the decorative piece.  I call him Aslan (any Chronicles of Narnia fans out there?) and like to think that He protects our home.  This ivy was growing a bit out of control with vines dangling all the way to the floor and some curving up towards Aslan.  Some of the vines were no longer green but rather tinted with brown.  I decided it was time to clip some of these vines (although they looked a bit dreamy and romantic) in order for them to keep thriving and for other vines to grow.  The dead parts needed  to be removed to allow for new growth.  Even though it still looked pretty, new growth could not happen if the vines were actually dying.  Are there parts of our lives that are like this?  They may look good on the outside, but they are keeping us from true growth and living out our real passions and giftings.  They are thwarting true abundant living and freedom.  We NEED to clip those parts off and throw them away.  They are hindering our growth.  It is often hard to do this because maybe these vines have been hanging on us for too long or maybe we rely on them to get by and survive. Maybe we think our identity is these vines, but really our true identity is hiding behind them tangled up and struggling to be seen.  What vines do you need to clip in your life in order for your REAL self— the best version of your self—can be seen?

Ask God for the strength to clip them yourself or ask for Him to remove them as only He can. This may not be easy, it actually may be painful, but beauty will arise from the pain.  Trust me.  Trust Him—-our faithful, good, loving creator who wants good, beautiful things for our lives. 

I’m in a season of clipping back some vines and slowing down. I’m in a season of wanting to make my family come first, of wanting to be intentional with my girls and husband, and of wanting to see God at work and join Him in our great, BIG, crazy beautiful world.

This picture was taken at a birthday party my daughters and I attended. Another mama snapped this photo and sent it to me.  She did not realize just how significant this picture would be for me.  To me it represents what has been going on in our lives for the past two years.  I have been on a spinning wheel trying to juggle teaching full time with being a full time mama and wife.  I feel like I wasn’t being successful at either and I feel like both worlds were suffering.  Yes, I was investing in my students’ lives and my daughters’ lives and pouring into both my school and home, but my heart and mind were struggling. 

This picture represents my daughter trying to get my attention, holding onto me while I was spinning—probably hoping we both would stop spinning.  She wanted me to slow down, she wanted me to be fully present, and she wasn’t letting go.  I was her safety in these moments of spinning, and yet, I felt out of control.  This photo reminds me that one of my best, most important jobs in the world is being a mom to my precious girls.  If I felt out of control, how could I help them to be grounded and to flourish? 

So, this picture confirms for me that my decision to step back from teaching is the right one for me and my family right now. I was not blooming where I was planted.  My vines needed clipping because I felt out of control.  Now, I can shift my focus back to my daughters and my husband and begin to thrive.  I want to write more as well and feel that God is calling me to be Brave on the Narrows.  I pray and hope that this blog will be an avenue that will flourish as well—sharing words,  thoughts, and inspirations with each of YOU. 

Be brave on the narrows, my friends. Allow God to clip your vines and slow you down, so you can flourish and thrive.  He will be faithful and He will provide.