Do It For You

My mom used to hire a babysitter so she could take a nap. I was too young to remember this, but my mom relayed this to me in my adult years. I used to think what she did was extravagant but only said to her “Really?” Why spend good money on a sitter and you are still at home? Of course, now having little ones of my own, I completely understand. While I haven’t yet hired a sitter to take a nap, after coming home from running errands a sitter has offered to stay so I could take a nap. I have taken advantage of some of these offers, but other times in my twisted strong black woman way I refused because I thought if I am physically present I SHOULD be able to take care of my own kids. Continue reading

Reclaiming Me

I got a chance to go to the library and pick books without colorful pictures and rhyming words.
I ate fancy food at an organic restaurant with my favorite organic friend.
I heard some poetry and some jazz apart from nursery rhymes and children whining in the background.
I thought about riding my bike but decided to take a stroll even with the children in tow and it was all right.

I got to reclaim myself on break Continue reading

The Break

My sister, Sharon, Me and our children


When I stopped my world stopped, at least the one that I had created in my busyness. No longer did I have to rise early and go to bed late to get it all done. My husband didn’t have to long for late-night dates nor did my children have to wait to play because “Mom, you’re always at your computer.” When my world stopped, I got out and the scenes changed immediately. I was now in those missing spaces and could see a lot better.

Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation, for when you come back to your work your judgment will be surer. Go some distance away because then the work appears smaller and more of it can be taken in at a glance and a lack of harmony and proportion is more readily seen.—Leonardo da Vinci, (1452-1519) Italian painter, sculptor and architect

My rest helped me reassess what needed to change so that I can renovate then rest on my perspective in three major areas: on God’s power; on my family’s purpose; and on my personal preferences. In short, I must have what I call the L perspective: Remembering that God gave me my family (a vertical extension), and they give me what God wants for me (a horizontal extension). If you sketch this reality, the vertical extension connected to the horizontal extension makes the letter L, thus the L perspective.

Though I knew some of this intellectually, my attitude displayed that the knowledge lived in my head, occasionally visiting my heart. I believe Jesus when He said that He came to earth that I might have life in Him, and not just any old life but one that is richly full (John 10:10). Yeah, that’s what I want and now have a better mind map to get me there. I pray that my revelations will inspire you to seek your own so you, too, will live the life Jesus Christ died for you to have, creating the same home in your head and in your heart.

Copyright 2010 by Rhonda J. Smith

Time Off

Break (Noun)—1) something that interrupts the pattern of a thing, causing it to come to a complete halt; 2) a change in direction; 3) a period off from activity; and 4) a vacation, among several other definitions.

“Unplug from the matrix,” my husband, Flynn, tells me when I haven’t eaten, forgot to take my vitamins or no longer hear children crying for my attention. My computer and cell phone distract me, are my constant news networks, social sources, fund suppliers, the way I can be a writer for hire in the comfort of my home and on the run. But with a husband, three children, five disciples, several mentors and increased ministry and writing opportunities, my home became more hectic and my runs more of a hassle. In the midst of this June fray I know that Flynn’s daily matrix comments led to this “suggestion” that I take a break from blogging in July. As you know, I sort of took a break, like the one in number two above, but not like numbers one and three like my hubby would have liked. But even with reposting blogs and writing new introductions (and one new blog, I just couldn’t help myself), that was a pivotal break. First and foremost I learned that I did need a break. I’ll share with you next time the list of insights I got while on my break.

Until then, take it easy if you can’t take a break.

Copyright 2010 by Rhonda J. Smith

The Old is New Again

“The Old is New Again” or “It’s New to You” could be the theme of my blog for July, depending on how you have been following this blog. While I’m taking a break from blogging, you will still get some posts, some reposts, from a few of my more than 200 entries that I have written over the course of this blog. Even if you have been with me since the start in 2008, you may not have read every post. And those who just began following Musings, it’s likely you didn’t go back to see all that you missed. Either way, the old will be new again or it’ll be new to you. See you with fresh content in August.

Copyright 2010 by Rhonda J. Smith