Welcome Life’s Interruptions
Photo Credit / Quote: Mark Buchanan
I was supposed to be on a cruise this week. Seven days of rest and relaxation sunk into an ocean of despair with one phone call.
Your grandmother is not well.
I hung up the receiver after my mom called me at the office and said a prayer for clarity before I shared the heartbreaking news with my husband.
Lord, make my way clear this week.
I chose to spend three days sitting quietly next to the two most important women in my life. I prayed for peace and comfort. I read from psalms aloud in Spanish. I gathered in close and let everything else float away.
I didn’t answer e-mail or return phone calls. I didn’t pack my sunscreen or camera. I didn’t check one thing off my to-do list or scour social media for the latest news.
In the world’s economy, I wasted a week.
But in God’s estimation, I made an eternal difference.
I pressed in and chose to be fully present for my people.
On Monday, my grandmother stepped into eternity and stood before her Savior. I plugged in to Jesus for a few hours before the service for some much-needed restoration. I picked up the book on the top of my nightstand pile and read this quote:
My whole life I have been complaining that my work was constantly interrupted until I discovered the interruptions were my work.
~Henri Nouwen
The author, Mark Buchanan, encouraged his readers to follow the example of Christ and “be generous with time.” Our Savior never hurried. He stopped along the way for children, the sick, the weary, and the lost. He accepted that miracles and ministry often happen when life is messy.
May the Lord help me
- to see obstacles as opportunities for His Kingdom purposes.
- to stop focusing on the urgent and invest in the eternal.
- to set aside my agenda and be fully present for my people.
True joy comes when I welcome interruptions as an invitation to slow down and engage in a Providential assignment.
Let’s Talk: Has God ever interrupted your well-laid plans for His greater purpose?
Join me in 2016 and #ChooseRest.
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I am so sorry to hear of your grandmother’s passing. I love the quote you shared. To truly be able to see what we call interruptions as Gods’ work. Blessings and hugs!
Lyli,
I totally agree – we do what God calls us to do regardless of “our plans”. We are working towards eternity. Blessings to you and may you have wonderful memories of your grandmother.
Blessings,
Janis
I’m so sorry for your loss, Lyli. May knowing that your grandmother now rests safely in the loving arms of our Savior bring you peace.
Viewing interruptions as opportunities is a huge challenge for me. Something I’m working on. Great perspective and reminder. Blessings on your weekend.
I am so sorry for your loss. Well done for making that choice. This is so on my heart at the moment too. I have slipped in how I view interruptions, especially from my little girl and need that reminder to be fully present once more. Visiting from the Weekend Whispers link up.
Oh yes, Lyli, He’s interrupted my plans many times…and I’ve been angry and sad and frustrated. Not the response he was looking for I’m sure. I’m sorry for the loss of your precious grandmother, but grateful for the lessons you have learned even in the midst of your sorrow. And thanks for taking the time to share them with us. Much love!
Lyli, sorry for your loss. I’ve been interrupted many times & I am not sure my response has always been as willing as yours. But I have learned over time. Interruptions – our providential assignments. Oh to remember that with every interruption. Blessings! xo
This is beautiful, Lyli – thank you for sharing this and reaching out to others amidst your grief. You will never regret taking time for this interruption and spending final moments with your grandmother. God bless you! Love and {{hugs}}.
This is truly what life is about; being present for the ones we love. Thanks for the reminder that God’s ways are not our ways some days and that He has the best in mind for us. Sorry for you loss and what privilege that you could be there for her, your mother and yourself!
I am sorry for your families loss Lyli and grateful you listened when it was time to lean in – to be present for your family. Thank you also for this gentle and important reminder. I love the Nouwen quote and this “be fully present for your people”. I’m going to meditate on how I can do better. Happy Sunday beauty!
Oh bless you for your loss, I know the heartache of losing a grandma who was one of the most important people in our lives. How sad you would have been if you had been on your vacation, what discernment God gave you to stay put, to be there for those you love, to slow down enough to know. Love Nouwen’s quote..such wisdom! Beautiful post and reminder! Visiting today from #playdateswGod. I’m so blessed to find you today!
Lyli, I’m so sorry for your loss. This is such a beautiful reminder of what’s important in life! Thank you for sharing it with us.
I’m so sorry for your loss. What an awesome choice you made, but difficult, too. I’m praying God will comfort you with His presence and good memories.
Thanks for sharing. I love the whole concept of REST. We need it constantly or we will crash and burn! Joining you from #RaRalinkup. Be blessed!
You are so right! We miss the value of serving people when we are focused on our to do lists. It might be because people are a little more complicated than a neat to do list. Thank you for sharing your story! Visiting from the #RaRalinkup.
I wanted to tell you that I’m so sorry to hear about your loss. It is hard to let go of the loved ones. Even knowing that they are in a better place, beyond pain and suffering that we face here. May God bless you and your family and give you strenght and peace in this difficult time.
I’m so sorry to hear about your loss. Thank you for sharing this beautiful story, and for the reminder! #livefreeThursday
Lyli, I love how you are pressing in to God during this time! Interruption is something God has been speaking to me too. Letting my life be open to what He wants, rather than what I want. I’m praying for you and your family!
Wow! This message sure is coming in loud and clear – it’s normal for life to be filled with interruptions. I seem to be seeing this everywhere.
Thanks for the reminder to embrace the interruptions and be fully present!
I came over on FaithnFriends to find your post.
Hope you have a blessed weekend~
Melanie
Prayers for your family concerning the loss of such a cherished lady. I’m thankful you were able to enjoy some good, quality time with her before her passing. Thanks for such an encouraging post. 🙂 One of my favorite quotes is this one by C.S. Lewis: “The great thing, if one can, is to stop regarding all the unpleasant things as interruptions of one’s ‘own,’ or ‘real’ life. The truth is of course that what one calls the interruptions are precisely one’s real life — the life God is sending one day by day.” Blessings! – Tasha
Lyli, thank you for sharing the making of this wise choice. I’m on my own journey of people over productivity this year as well, and you have encouraged me.
You’ll never regret that time spent with your grandmother. Thank you for the reminder to make time for my people. I Hope you can stop by:
http://collettaskitchensink.blogspot.com/2016/01/songs-on-sunday-call-it-grace-by.html
Colletta
Oh Lyli … I’m so sorry for the loss of your grandma. It’s amazing how little all of life’s offerings matter when faced with the death of someone so dear to us.
I’m holding you up in prayer as you grieve …
Mr. Alstln has a profitable trak file for handling prison instances annd has thee knowledge and the compasssion wanted to ensure that you gett honest therapy.
I was wondering if you ever considered changing the layout of your website?
Its very well written; I love what youve got to say. But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it
better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only having 1 or 2 pictures.
Maybe you could space it out better?