by Lauren Scruggs-Kennedy | Apr 16, 2020 | Life Advice |
It is wild to think we in the fourth week of quarantine. Do you feel like the time is crawling or flying by? I feel like the first week or two was full of processing and finding our rhythms, and now we are more settled in and feeling all kinds of emotions. This time can be so triggering for anxiety or fear or a when will this end mentality, and as I reflect on the last 21 days, I am amazed at how easy it is to avoid my internal state. If I am honest, it has been much easier to “task,” watch TV, and lounge on my phone. Who’s with me? It is vulnerable and a bit intimidating to dig into this, to better our minds, to journal, to start intentional conversations, to address the feelings that arise. We are so used to our fast paced “go” mentality, and now that we have open space and quiet moments, it can be startling and scary and, not to mention, harder to live in a state of avoidance. BUT, this could be the best thing for us. I keep thinking about how this is the pace the generations lived before us, and the wisdom and relationships built during those years are unmatched. It’s almost as if this time is a lens into the times before our rush and distraction-filled culture was created, and it is beautiful. Let’s embrace it. Let’s make changes.
It amazes me that the entire world is in this together but circumstances are all different. Some are separated from family, some are home alone, some are at the frontlines risking their lives and serving people during this time, some are learning to homeschool their kids, teenagers are missing their friends, weddings are postponed, struggling marriages are forced to be together, parents are balancing toddlers without help, some are transitioning to balancing two work schedules in the house, many are out of jobs, some are exhausted cooking and cleaning 24/7, extroverts are missing in person connection, and the list goes on. You are not alone. In the struggle, we can all come together.
Yesterday I really started feeling moved by the idea that I do not want to waste this time. This is an opportunity to practice self-discipline more than ever. This is a time to focus on truth. This is a time to be reminded of how much we can’t control. I love this quote that I read this morning in the book Pray Big Things quoted by Oswald Chambers – “all our fret and worry is caused by calculating without God.” God has gone before us and is redeeming this time of unknowns, and He is with us through every moment. Let’s start noticing Him in the day to day and cast our burdens on Him. Let Him carry them.
I started making some intentions and boundaries that I hope can be helpful to you:
- Limit the news to only the necessary guidelines. This has helped with limiting anxiety and worry.
- Check in on and encourage your friends every day and FaceTime with family and the people you love.
- Start your day journaling, reading, and praying before you even look at your phone!
- Time block your days: working, exercise, chores, and relax time.
- Make sure you get some vitamin D, whether that’s going on your back porch, on a walk, or through opening your windows.
- Look up a new recipe and cook it!
- Support small businesses in your area.
- Ask your husband, wife, family member, or roommate how you can support them during this time.
- Send people flowers, thoughtful presents, or gift cards.
- Play music in your house the entire day.
- Make your bed first thing in the morning.
- Give your house some love. Organize and clean out your spaces and donate!
What are things you are doing every day to make this time purposeful? Would love to hear your ideas. Hope you are all staying safe and healthy!
Lauren Scruggs-Kennedy is a Wellness Warrior, NY Times Best-Selling Author, Lifestyle blogger. She’s the founder of The Clean Sweep, Stranded, and the LSK Foundation. Check out all that she and her team are up to at laurenscruggskennedy.com.
Follow Lauren on Instagram @laurenscruggs
by Lauren Scruggs-Kennedy | May 7, 2018 | Life Advice, Testimonies
[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]Do you sometimes just rest in awe of how awesome God’s provision truly is? When we dwell on this, our hearts undoubtedly overflow with amazement, gratefulness, and humbleness, and before we know it, we are giving and living in a state of praise for our great, heavenly, perfect Provider. Even though our circumstances might not always look or seem like it, the Lord knows exactly what we need, when we need it, why, how much, and everything else- in every single aspect of our lives! How incredible is that? Praising Him for how wonderfully he cares for all of His children both requires and causes a thankful, open, appreciative, trusting, believing heart.
Lately, I have been spending time in the Old Testament and seeing how God led Israel out of Egypt is truly mind-blowing. He made promises to them and fulfilled those promises, leading them out of slavery and into the Promise Land. In His time and His way, God made a way for His people because of His immense love for them. Even though they weren’t aware of His plan, He carried it out, gently yet powerfully leading them out of bondage and into freedom with Him! The same is true for us. He loves us more than we could even begin to imagine and is providing for, caring for, planning for, preparing for, and making a way for us, leading us to His best at all times.
Rejoicing in the simple yet heart-changing Truth that we are His children and He is our Father is a way of life and is no doubt the best life! What we need and what we want are vastly two different things. Being grateful for everything, trusting completely (especially during hard seasons), and following Him even when you aren’t so sure is always, always, always the way. Just think—He knows us better than we know ourselves, so I would much prefer He provide for me than rely on my own “strength”!
“So, don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.”
(Matthew 6:31-33, Christian Standard Bible)
“But seek first the kingdom of God…and all these things will be provided for you”. We are to seek Him. That is all this verse requires of us. A heart that is seeking Him is one that is believing, praising, trusting, and prioritizing Him. God is so good and we are in His loving, protective, wise, perfect hands. I recently heard this song by Housefires and listening to it really puts my mind in such a sweet, peaceful place. A place of reassurance that He always satisfies us. Any want, desire, aching, longing, and dream…He is our answer and the way!
Come to the water, all who are thirsty
Come and drink
Come to the table, all who are hungry
Come and feast
Those who are weary, those who are needy
Come receive!
-Come to The River, Housefires
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by Lauren Scruggs-Kennedy | Jan 31, 2018 | Testimonies |
guest blogger.
Oh, sweet grace. The gift of grace is the best kind of gift. We have been thinking lately about how thankful we are for grace and the freedom that it brings, even when we don’t deserve it. Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you aren’t particularly pleased with a situation or person? These situations can bring about hurtful feelings of disappointment, critical feelings of judgement, heartbroken feelings of confusion, or heavy feelings of bitterness and resentment. However, there is a sweet way to avoid these negative, soul-weakening feelings! The answer is grace.
Give the gift of grace to others freely, abundantly, and always. Even when your mind might be raging, tap into your heart and give grace to someone. This will not only be so good for them, but it will be so good for you as well! You will feel light and unburdened and will be able to carry on, instead of being stuck in an unforgiving rut. It is harder said than done, and it takes patience, so we encourage all of us to praise the Lord for the sweet grace He gives us and pray for Him to give us the strength and the tenderness to give grace to others constantly.
Here is a quote from the daily devotional, Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young that really spoke to me: ‘When someone mistreats you, try to view it as an opportunity to grow in grace. See how quickly you can forgive the one who has wounded you.” I love the picture that this quote creates; each hurtful situation is an opportunity for us to grow! It is a challenge because we have two choices: to feel hurt, angry, and hold on to negative feelings, or to release the negative by forgiving, giving grace, and in return we will grow in grace.
Lysa Terkeurst has an amazing quote on grace: When to give grace? I’d rather stand before God knowing I loved others too much than regretting that I judged too harshly. Amen to that. Loving others by showing them grace in every opportunity that you have is the sweetest display of love. May we all keep this quote in mind as we live and interact with others, giving grace and loving people even when they let us down or hurt us. xo
by Lauren Scruggs-Kennedy | Aug 2, 2017 | Depression, Disabilities, Eating Disorders & Body Image, Identity, Life Advice, LO Library, Testimonies, Testimonies |
guest blogger.
I have always been an all-natural kind of girl, with palm trees, ocean waves, and sandy toes on my mind. I feel more myself with little to no makeup, a blow out or beach waves that look effortless, and high-waisted Levis for that all-American, undone look. Like most girls, I cared about what I looked like growing up, but I didn’t spend too much time getting ready or analyzing my appearance. I truly believe my parents’ love and encouragement was a vessel in protecting me from low self value, and believing that I was a daughter of Jesus aided in focusing on developing lasting memories and friendships, rather than becoming consumed with the physical. Yet, I was very challenged on this mindset and perspective when my life took an unexpected turn.
My calendar paused, my career path changed, and my platform increased after a night of injury in 2011. I was sucked into a plane propeller; the blade cut into my brain and the left side of my body, resulting in the loss of my left eye, left hand, and half my head of hair post brain surgery. In retrospect, I clearly see how I easily submerged in destructive comparison after this life-altering experience. I felt depleted of beauty, but my foundation remained the same. My mom and dad’s love and encouragement became stronger. My faith and trust in believing Jesus loved me grew substantially. Somehow my perspective of beauty shifted, though, and I believe one of the gifts of this tragedy was revealing to me the meaningless things that I apparently held so dear. What “bothered” me most about the outcome of this accident revealed what I held as very valuable. Did I let outward beauty define me? Yes. Did I cherish attention more than I realized? Definitely. I truly had to sit back and be still. I had to reassess my foundation. I had to refocus on what was important. I quickly came to realize that comparison is equivalent to worry; it only severely hinders and limits fruition. Plus, if we really think about it, wouldn’t life be boring if we were all the same?
“Physical beauty fades; attention is temporary and unfulfilling.”
The Lord has brought such healing these last five years. He has restored in me a new kind of inner confidence that is rooted in where my identity truly stands, and I have realized the following to be true: physical beauty fades; attention is temporary and unfulfilling. Yes, my insecurities are a daily struggle. I often catch myself comparing not only to other people but to my “old” self. Grief is intertwined in it all as I miss my hand and my eye daily, but a lot of the hesitation in loving the skin I am in comes from wanting to hide what has changed. I have learned to be open about this struggle to my sweet husband, family, and friends, and I am slowly realizing that freedom comes from vulnerability. I am also seeing that beauty truly is in accepting the scars, in character, in the humility of freely being you, and in loving others well. I am learning to fully accept and value the path the Lord has put in front of me, and I am learning to view that path as beautiful.
