All From Abundance - Vol. #002
A Look Inside:
- A reflection on the lasting impact of what we do, not just what we say.
- Approaching summer at home with the kids through three daily anchors.
More is Caught Than Taught - Tanner
Parenting is hard.
Perhaps the hardest part is that we’ve never done it before. We have no experience to draw on when navigating each new stage.
With our oldest, I often struggle to find the right words in certain moments. Whether it’s helping him through a situation at school or trying to train him in a particular area of life - I often just don’t know what to say.
We’ve all heard the phrase, “More is caught than taught.” But it wasn’t until recently that I realized just how true that is.
When I stopped to think about it, I realized I could only recall three specific things my dad said to me growing up:
- “It doesn’t take much to stand out and set yourself apart in this world.”
- “These are some of the best days of your life - don’t wish them away!” (He said this once when I was a teenager working at the golf course and playing golf every day, and again when I was away at college.)
- “Worry is interest paid in advance on a debt you may never owe.”
That’s it. I lived under his roof for 18 years, and those are the only direct quotes I can bring to memory.
But I remember so much more about how he lived:
- Coaching my first baseball team
- Serving in the local Kiwanis Club
- Driving me to school every morning
- Dropping a check in the offering plate each week
- Opening the car door for my mom every single time
- Filming every one of my high school basketball games
- Giving his time to others who could give him nothing in return
- Generously supporting a refugee family sponsored by our church
- Giving up his time to provide budget coaching to members of our church
- Prioritizing Friday morning breakfasts at Cracker Barrel with me each week my Senior Year of high school
- Making sacrifice after sacrifice - both with his time and money - so that my sister and I could have every opportunity to explore our interests
The list goes on.
As helpful as those three phrases have been to me, it’s his consistent daily actions I return to most often. The way he lived has shaped me far more than anything he ever said.
It reminds me of a quote from one of my favorite books, Habits of the Household:
“When it comes to spiritual formation, our households are not simply products of what we teach and say. They are much more products of what we practice and do.”
So if you’re like me and sometimes feel the pressure to always have the perfect words: be encouraged. Your kids are watching. And they will long remember how you lived, even if they forget what you said.
A Summer Game Plan - Brittany
Summer break as a work-from-home mom can feel overwhelming before it even begins. But this year, I’m shifting my mindset - not aiming for perfection, but preparing my heart. I’m choosing to approach this season with purpose and joy, an open spirit, and a loose plan.
Here it is:
Delight - I’m choosing to delight in my kids. Meet them where they are and commit to an active summer with some structure and a ton of fun.
I know the sugar intake will be high and late nights are inevitable, which means the tantrums may be flowing.
However, I’m choosing to delight in the fact that our kids are only 6 and 3 once, and I’m going to make the most of this summer.
“Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.” - Psalm 127:3
Declare - I get to declare God’s identity over them! Each morning after I spend my own quiet time with the Lord, I often ask God what He wants me to share with the kids.
Sometimes it’s one phrase: “Grayson, did you know you can stand firm today, no matter what your sister says to you?”
Sometimes it’s speaking life over them: “Kennedy, did you know God made you in his perfect image? You look like him!”
Other times it's believing and speaking in faith: “Grayson, I know and believe you can have self control with God’s help today.”
I pray I can lean into this truth and speak life, wisdom, and the power of God into them.
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.” - Proverbs 18:21
Depend - None of this is possible unless I come to the end of myself, fully reliant on the Lord. Surrendered hands and completely believing that God has his best for our family this summer.
I’m going to choose faith and believe God will provide margin for me - the time to both work and exercise. And fully depend on Him to fill me new and fresh every single day.
When I surrender outcomes and expectations, I’m choosing to trust God is in control and His way is better.
"The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning." - Lamentations 3:22-23
This summer, I’m holding these three words close: Delight, Declare, Depend. Not as tasks to complete, but as daily invitations to lean into grace and make space for God to move in our home.
One Final Thing...
Here For It - We've been so blessed by this new podcast our pastors have launched, specifically the third and fourth episodes. We can't recommend them enough!
Until next time,
-Tanner and Brittany
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