There are people you meet in your life that simply radiate assurance. These people are what I like to call rested in faith. Their presence around you makes you feel a little more important to the world. And it's not because of their goodness, it's really more because of their lightness. You gravitate towards these individuals. You hope they're in your small group or on your side of the office. You just have this feeling that things are possible and life is a wee bit more tangible when they're around.

I am fortunate to know a handful of these humans. And like shiny pennies, I have stashed them in my life pockets. Forever fiddling with them in between my fingers when life gets dark or a bit more out of reach. Today's author is one of those pennies. I had the privilege of meeting her in college. And while we ran in no real solid circles together, I counted her cents for my sake on more than one occasion.

i appreciate the absolute wonderful opportunity she has given to me to now call her staff writer and teammate. And I can hardly wait to ping-thumb-flip out her Abraham Lincoln to so many out there that need this very penny in their pocket like me.

Without further ado, please make welcome Mrs. Sarah Arnett.

I’ve always been a blog-lurker. I read friends’ blogs, peruse professional bloggers whom I enjoy following, and even stalk blogs of people that I don’t know personally yet have been drawn into their stories. I’ve never been a blog-writer, though. Honestly, it feels a little vulnerable to put my heart out there and invite others in. However, when Meghan approached me about joining her team she said the magic word- encouragement. Her vision was to use her website to encourage others, and being so in line with my heart and so needed in our age, I said yes without reservation.

Here’s my story…

I’m a classic first born: straight shooter, people pleaser, and “just tell me what to do and I’ll do it so you can tell me I’m wonderful”. Worth noting, however; I am not type A nor a perfectionist. At all. I grew up surrounded by a loving family that cheered me on in whatever I attempted. I look back at some of my teenage “sassy mouth” episodes with self-disdain, but overall my precious parents knew I could be counted on for good judgment and responsible actions. In God’s great mercy I was also given true friends throughout my childhood and teenage/college years. Their value is greater than gold. I married my BEST friend when I was 22 and we began “the rest of our lives” together.

15 years and 5 kids later, even as a follower of Christ, I carried a monkey on my back that constantly whispered in my ear,

“Are you doing enough?”

Monkey: “Are you doing enough for the Lord? If you were, you’d be doing more for the homeless, you’d be adopting more orphans, you’d be standing for the gospel in difficult situations.”

Me: "I enjoy reading about folks that have done just these things: Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Corrie ten Boom, Katie Davis. I dream about being like them."

Monkey: “Are you doing enough for your husband? Do you show him how much you respect and appreciate him? Do you keep the house clean and prepare good meals so he has a protected place to call home?”

Me: "I hope so. I try hard. I fall short. My bedroom only gets cleaned up twice a year and the rest of the time it’s the dumping ground for all of the random stuff that somehow ends up on my dresser."

Monkey: “Are you doing enough for your kids? Do you parent them with firm limits yet loving safety? Are you preparing them to be solid adults? Are you spoiling them? Are you too hard on them? Are they kind when you’re not around? Would they stand up for others? Do they see their need for Jesus? Do they eat too much sugar?”

Me: "Only time will tell. At the end of the day, it’s ALL grace."

Yet lately, I’ve been doing business with the monkey. The Lord has been whispering into my heart that the monkey’s standard is not His standard. I’m not called to earn my place by demonstrating my worthiness. My job is to play MY note. My note is an important part of the symphony of life, yet I can’t possibly play all of the instruments. Leave those notes to the people who have been assigned to play them. Things will sound infinitely better that way. Theodore Roosevelt said “Comparison is the thief of joy.” He’s right. I am not Jen Hatmaker. I am not Ann Voskamp.

But I AM shaking the monkey off, asking myself: “Are you loving the people the Lord puts in front of YOU today? Are you trying, through His great mercy, to reflect His character and accept responsibility when you fail? Are you making a difference for one or two or three? Are you playing your note?” I’m slowly realizing that it isn’t easy, but it doesn’t have to be complicated.

Hallelujah!

I just so happen to be speaking a little more on the topic of Sarah's words over at the Knoxville Moms Blog today. Life flies by and why is it exactly that we spend so much of it looking back missing what we had and wishing for what is next? Why does the present get so little press?

Head on over here to check to check it out.

This month we're celebrating story. The ones that only we can tell. Check out the great ones told already from the writing staff. I am certain you will find a connection with the hope & honesty shared inside these posts.

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