I’ve been listening to a parenting book on my morning runs for the past couple weeks called Raising Giant Killers: Releasing your child’s divine destiny. It has been a very insightful book. It covers everything, including marriage and the environment we create for our children, along with its impact. But today, the author read out an African Proverb and it stopped me in my tracks:

If you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go far, go together.

I have such a hard time asking for help. I always think I can do all of it, because no one will do it like me. Which just translates to: no one will help you because you end up redoing all their work. Part of development is allowing others to grow by learning from their mistakes, and the improvements they can make. For me, I keep going and going until I am so overwhelmed, that the little patience I have is completely obliterated.

Eric and I are having trouble getting to a healthy place when it comes to our schedules. From work commitments, kids sports, volunteer work for school, family commitments, church, and not to mention homework!, we are running thin on patience for one another (primarily, me). My husband has a heart of gold, that guy will bend over backwards to help, give, and build community. He goes beyond the immediate vision most of us have. He sacrifices for the future, envisioning the harvest as he works.

I have a hard time seeing beyond my immediate surrounding sometimes. I put in a lot, but I also can complain a lot (as I was clearly told by loving husband yesterday). And it’s true. So, I have choices to make. Keep doing what I am doing, seeing it all with a glass half full or half empty mentality.

I tell Nate all the time that our perspective matters, it allows for our mind to decide the attitude we have going into anything. And yet, here I am, not doing what I preach. Ugh. BUT, I am going to be graceful with myself and remind myself that I can do better and I will do better. I will make better choices by really evaluating things and, like Eric, envision the harvest as I work. Also, it is ok to say no, or quit. If it is not working for you- it is ok (this I have to keep saying to myself over and over!). I have problems when it comes to stopping things…I think this definitely comes from my dad. He never let me quit anything! Ok, well, this is all I have for today. Hope everyone is having a great reflective start to their week.

XO