I just had lunch with a dear friend and lamented how many projects and loose ends taunt me as fall shifts into gear and winter is pressing on the gas. My internal perfectionism button bobs to High Danger levels when I run through my unfinished-from-summer list. The deck. The weeds. The next book. The garage. The landscape lights. The closets. The trees. The deck. The weeds. The next book. The garage. The landscape lights. The closets. The trees.
Arghhhhhh…as my friend Ray used to kid about rogue bugs, “Kill it before it reproduces.” Some days I need to kill my wildly colliding to-do lists and my penchant for project perfectionism. I find it hard to start a project if I know I can’t finish it with an A grade and on my ideal timetable. Stop. It’s time for a plain and simple lesson from my 4-year-old neighbor, Brently.
“Hey, Aryabelle, Ayrabelleeeeeeee!” Brently called to the pupster and I as we walked past Brently’s house the other day. I was focused on getting Ayrabelle to the park so she could do her business and I could get back to mine. But the sweet voice of Brently was too much to resist. Bellie and I paused and waited. Brently bolted out the front door and scurried across the lawn.
“Aryabelle, oh, Ayrabelleeeeeeee!” Brently chirped, opening her arms wide as she could to hug Bellie’s thick collar. Let the giggles begin. Put the world on hold.
Brently, who used to be so afraid of my gregarious, prancing puppy, was now in seventh heaven playing with my Divine Miss A. Hug. Kiss. Squeal. Brently in her swirling white play dress and Bellie in her fluffy collie coat. Brently confessed she had just eaten a few chicken nuggets and left the dinner table so she could wait and watch for Bellie and Beth. The girl gave up tender, deep-fried white meat just for us!
Ahhhh…talk about a reminder to let go of my adult-sized stressors for even just a few minutes. Giddy girl + happy hound = keeping life plain and simple.
Most days our lengthy list of to-dos needs to loosen up with some unplanned, unpolished moments to absorb simple moments with a childlike perspective. Hug. Kiss. Squeal.
Wanna join us for a walk past Brently’s?
“…a plain and simple life is a full life.” Proverbs 13:7, The Message
Oh, I LOVE this! I need to embrace its message, too! Thank you for lifting up my day!
Glad Brently, Bellie and I are encouraged. I think you’ve met Brently. She used to run from Bellie when she saw us coming.
A poignant reminder beautifully said. Thanks Beth.
You are so welcome, Pam!
Yes, I need a break from the never ending todo list! Wish I could go to the park with you. Guess I’ll put on some bug spray and sit on the patio and watch fireflies. The list will have to wait.
Bellie and I wish you could join us at the park too. Did I introduce you to Brently when you were here? Wish we could watch fireflies with you. Often list postponement can make you more productive in the long-run.
Love love love love love this! What a seeet reminder to keep things simple in order to savor those special sweet moments in our lives. Thank you!
So glad Brently, Bellie and Beth could be an encouragement to you, my friend. Miss you!
This is so you, Beth! Not the lists, but the enjoyment of people and dogs. Yay!
It’s sooo true, Nancy. I lose my lists. Like the list to make sure I had replied to all my comments. I click the wrong button months ago when I first wrote you back. New list for responding to comments…nah, I think I’ll plan my afternoon walk and catch Brently home. 🙂
Too precious for words! And a good reminder not to miss what matters most!
As always you remind us to savor God’s goodness with such a sweet story to not miss a moment because of a “list!”
I must have lost my list to reply to all my comments. I did reply when you first wrote this, but then couldn’t find my list that listed how to save my reply. I need to write another list right now to check my comments within a day of posting a new blog. Or, maybe I need to chill and take Bellie to Brently’s. 🙂
How sweet and utterly Jesus-ish…I’m throwing my lists in the air today in solidarity with all of you!
Here’s to celebrating list throwing at list once a week. Weeeeeeeee!!