I'm an adult, and I have to do something about it.

When I was a freshly-degreed young woman, testing the waters of adulthood, I looked life straight in the eye. I knew where I wanted to go, how to get there, and nothing would stop me. I did not, however, factor in life. People, circumstances, sin, suffering, and all of my ickly-prickly shortcomings.

I recently went to a mall to pick up a gift for a friend. I had a toddler strapped to my body, a mask on my face, and bags in each hand. I glanced at a window display of women’s clothing and thought, “That is a store for grown-ups.” For some reason, of all the moments of my grown-up life, that was the moment I realized, “I am 36-years old... that rounds up to 40. I am married with two kids and have served people in a foreign nation for almost 11 years. I am an actual grown up. I could buy grown-up clothes if I so chose.” 

You know what I’ve learned the most since I stood, bright-eyed on the edge of adulting up to now, where I’m wading waist-deep into real life? It can be so easy for our days and dreams to fly by unnoticed and unclaimed. We have to name them, plan for them, and put our plans into action every single day.

We all start out with our own bold, youthful proclamations of what life is going to be. We profess “until death do us part” and promote an all-organic,  screen-free household. We are sure we won’t become like all the other people - the ones whose marriages are failing and whose dream are disintegrating. 

You have to do something different than the rest of the world to not become them. A marriage doesn’t stay healthy and intimate without daily decisions. Homes aren’t happy when we let darkness and despair replace the Light of the World. 

You have to stop looking at the world if you don’t want to look like it. 

Let me give it to you straight here... I’ve been awake for many, many days and nights in a row. My baby-child is on a sleeping strike. The only way I’m writing this is with the help of a screen flashing educational music videos into his tired, little eyes. That’s who I am today. It’s exactly who I never said I would be. But it’s just today, and there’s grace for that. It’s not a habit I’m going fostering in my home. 

The habits of our home are the scaffolding of our stories. Whatever we set our eyes on determine the direction of our paths. Daily decisions always trump someday dreams. 

Is there one decision you could make for yourself today to put you on the path you want to walk?

I’ll share more on Saturday about an idea to automate little decisions that help keep you and your people pointing in the right direction. You’re just one little decision away from changing your life’s direction for the good! I believe in you!