Share Four Somethings: January 2022

Not everything we do—decisions we make, projects we undertake, maybe even cakes we bake—seems monumental and life-changing, especially not in the moment. But the small things can still make a big difference—in the flow of daily life, on our contentment levels, in the joy that we can experience even when our circumstances threaten to get us down.

That’s the spirit in which I start off this new year of Share Four Somethings, complete with a few new categories.

• Something Loved

My daughter Lilly gave me a perpetual calendar for Christmas. It was a thoughtful gift, but I wasn’t sure if I was going to use it or put it on the counter and forget about it.

Turns out, the daily practice of changing out the numbers and days of the week has become a stabilizing part of my early morning routine. I suppose the speed at which the days are passing could be a bit depressing, but the simple act of flipping little metal cards to the next date somehow reminds me that each new day is important, no matter how mundane it may seem.

It’s like Annie Dillard says in The Writing Life: “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.”

A sobering thought, for sure. One that prompts me to pray with Moses:

“Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts. … Satisfy us in the morning with Your faithful love so that we may shout with joy and be glad all our days. (Psalm 90: 12, 14)

• Something Gleaned (An Expansion of Something Read or Said)

When my college girl tells me about a chapel message that she thinks I might like, I listen up.

A few weeks ago, Curtiss Smith—pastor of the St. James Missionary Baptist Church in Fayetteville, Ark.—came to campus. His text was Exodus 13:17-22, which describes how God led the Israelites the long way through the wilderness.

Smith told his young audience about how God leads us through life’s journey—and what often keeps us from knowing what He wants us to do on the way.

“If you are not walking with God, don’t expect God to raise His voice,” Smith said. “Because if you are not close enough to God to hear Him whisper, then you will always be wandering in the middle of nowhere. Why? Because God is only speaking to those that are close enough.”

Lilly was right. It was a powerful, timely message. To see for yourself, listen here.

• Something Braved

According to the Share Four Somethings host blogger, this new category is “a place for us to share what was hard for us this month.” It could be as serious as undergoing a scary medical procedure or as simple as plowing through some minor job we’ve been dreading.

Thankfully, mine falls in the latter category this time.

Until just recently, a big drawer in my kitchen desk contained several thick file folders full of discarded writing projects, sermon notes, family memories, talks I’ve given and articles I saved for one reason or another. I’ve been meaning to go through it all for a while now but kept putting it off.

This might sound silly, but this kind of task requires a bit of emotional energy for me. Not as much as going through all my parents’ paperwork after they died, but enough to make me want to avoid it.

I’ve done it now, though. In the process, I relived some precious family memories. I realized how grateful I am that certain writing dreams didn’t come to fruition. I noticed how my voice has changed over the years, and also my heart.

Sometimes you have to look back in order to move forward. Cleaning out my desk drawer has helped me do that.

• Something Achieved

This new category is about setting goals and making progress.

We’ve lived in our house for almost 11 years. The entire time, every single product I use in the morning and evening has been lined up on my bathroom countertop. My minimalist husband and I have discussed the possibility of built-in medicine cabinets, but the structure of our bathroom doesn’t really allow for that.

Chalk it up to January purging vibes or something, but this month, I suddenly got the bright idea to move all my makeup and personal-care products to a drawer in our vanity. (I had to reorganize the drawers to make this happen, but it was way past time for that too.)

All my stuff fits on a lovely clear tray from Bed Bath & Beyond, which I simply lift out when I need it and put back in the drawer when I’m done. That tray, along with one small countertop organizer and a new lotion dispenser, has vastly improved the look and feel of our bathroom.

It’s a minor change, but I love it. (Randy’s just wondering why I didn’t think of it sooner.)

• • •

Now it’s your turn. Major or minor, please share in the comments something loved, gleaned, braved or achieved from the past month.

♥ Lois

P.S. I’m linking up this week with Share Four Somethings, #tellhisstory, InstaEncouragements, Recharge Wednesday, Let’s Have Coffee and Grace & Truth