A Bookish Life In AK

This week before Thanksgiving, is a kind of limbo, I want to start decorating for Christmas, but not at the same time. I want to be present and truly celebrate Thanksgiving.

What does that even mean, being present? It is a major buzz term lately. I seen it everywhere. Being present simply means that, being aware what is going on around us, in the moment, in the time, in the place where you are and with the people around you, whether that is family, friends or coworkers. For me, being present is putting away my book and listening when my son is telling me about his video game or the latest movie he watched, that way when he comes to me and tells me about the problem he’s having he knows I will listen. It means the when my daughters, I have 3, call me I stop everything and listen, they know that unless I am in an important meeting, they are the important work still even though they don’t live at home anymore. Being preset with my husband means spending time together, shopping the local bazzars looking for Christmas presents, going out hunting deer and only finding a herd of cows, or going to dinner and keeping the phones put away so we can talk.

Being present with friends is very similar. It’s taking the time to go out for coffee, or tea, meeting up for shopping the thrift stores or at the bookstore for a new writing group. It’s going out of your way to have them over for a playdate when all your kids are little and you both need mom time. It can be a random text throughout the day telling them that you’re thinking of them, or if you’re a friend of mine, a funny meme. Or even cooking a favorite treat for them when you know they’ve had a hard week.

At work, being present means doing your best, no matter what. If your best one day is showing up and answering the phones, do it. Other days your best looks like you’ve got it all together, you finish what you have planned or whatever comes up, you help out your coworkers if you can. Being present at work for me means that they can trust you to show up.

Being present is hard some days tough. Some days, I just want to lose myself in my books, to imagine I am walking down a country road in Edwardian England, or that I’m living in rural Tennessee helping a factory during WWII. Or worse, just scrolling through Facebook, Instagram for Pinterest. Those things are not bad in themselves, but for someone who gets hyper focused and loses track of time or whatever is going on around her, it can and has hurt my family. I have been known to ignore my kids and husband when I’ve been deep into a book, or I’ve not done what I said I would do that day, knowing that I’ve disappointed them breaks my heart.

Being present is also a spiritual matter. God wants us to be present with him as well. He wants us to be present in prayer, to be present in church and to be present in worship. In prayer, are we focused on hearing from God and not just giving him our list of wants, wishes and need? How about in church, is it just something to check off of a list, or do we engage in others and help where needed? Worship is for God, do we practice at home or is just for church? If we make being present with God a priority, it can, will and has changed lives.

Being present in life takes work. It is something that needs to be intentional. It is hard work sometimes, especially when you’re tired or busy and just want to finish the task you’re on. But, I can promise you, it is worth it. The stopping when your toddler needs to show you the new rock he found, the late night talks with your crying teenager, the phone call in the middle of the day when your child needs advice on her own child, when your spouse calls and tells you they’re having a hard day, it makes life worth it. God gives us these moments to show His love to our family and coworkers.

I would encourage you readers, to make being present with your friends and family this season. I would also encourage you to make being present with God a priority as well. You will not be sorry if you do.

I know this wasn’t my normal book review or recommendation blog post, but I just felt like sharing this with you all today. Next week will be a post on Christmas books.

Prayers and Blessings, Becky

I have set the LORD always before me:
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth:
my flesh also shall rest in hope. Psalm 16:8-9