I don’t know about you but I end many of my days feeling as if I’ve run all day long. I don’t mean run as in errands or out and about, although there are those days, but just running emotionally and mentally. It’s as if my soul feels it needs to do and do and do… and do some more… that it can’t just sit still. When I try to sit still or have days that I actually can, I almost can’t… I struggle with guilt that I should be doing something. It’s kind of like B – if it’s pretty outside, he cannot sit still and just read or take a nap, his conscious won’t let him do it, he has to be outside finding something to do.
As I think about the words I just typed, I think too, “But aren’t you doing it to yourself?” And the answer is yes, of course. The guilt of doing that to myself is a layer; the guilt of not being busy is another. And then there’s this fear – oddly – a fear that if I’m still and quiet, I won’t like what I see or who I am. I know that’s crazy sounding, but it’s true. So – I – just – keep – going.
I don’t know the answers to any of that; if you do, will you tell me? I just know that as I wrote this, I envisioned God grabbing me as I ran right past Him, and saying, “Whoa, child, stop. What are you doing? Just breathe… stop… sit down… rest with me. It’s okay to just be.”
I want more of just being, do you?
Running
She ran and she ran
chasing hours in the day,
rarely slowing down to hear
what her heart might have to say.
It was as if she was afraid
if she slowed and got too still,
her shadows would catch up with her
and with reality she’d have to deal.
And one day as she ran,
God reached for her arm as she went by,
He pulled her close until she slowed down,
until her heart began to cry.
Her head was hanging low
until He lifted it to see her face,
she slowly raised her eyes
to look into the face of Grace.
God said, “Child, why do you run
from this life that I’ve given you?
It was a gift I created with you in mind
and I’m with you in ALL that you do.”
She looked at Him through tears and said,
“But God, I am afraid.
What if I slow and don’t do enough
in this life for me You made.”
God smiled as He wiped away her tears,
and said, “Child, I don’t need you to go and do,
I just need you to love and be still now and then,
to be simply beautifully you.
I don’t require more than that, I promise,
and the peace I want for you, it’s free,
I leave it for you in the quiet moments,
you just have to slow down and be.”
The girl breathed a deep breath as she let go,
the beat of her heart slowing down from the race,
she looked in His eyes, her smile starting to return,
as she looked in His face of grace.
Tracey
@traceykingrice2023
This passage is so awesome! You have accurately captured both God’s and the woman’s prospective on “running”. Thank you for sharing your talents! ❤️
So be beautifully written! Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I needed this today. My problem is I use to be so busy but right now I can’t. Mobility issues. I want to do so many things but my fear of falling is so scary to me. Love you Tracey!!
I had no idea about your mobility issues, I am sure that is maddening some days! I love you too, friend, and will be praying for you to find peace and healing!
Thank you, sweet friend, I love you!
Thank you Tracey.
You’re welcome sweet lady.
Good morning Tracey.. oh my this story is me too.. I go like a crazy chicken every day. I need to slow it down…but my inside voice says “you got more to do” and I do it! My flowers in my courtyard are important to me ‘cause that is my little get away from inside’. B says “sit down & rest awhile”. My Neuropathy says the same. PI chuckle & keep going! Since he had his stroke (1 year ago this past Apri), I feel I am two people in one body doing what I’m meant to do…taking good care of this guy I’ll soon be married to for 61 years.. and the other is a ray of responsibilities that I’ve always had…See ya later got to water my flowers in courtyard, get ready to meet friends for lunch & oops ????, a few other things..and I love what I’m able to be & do!!
Love the poem. If you wrote that…it needs to be framed & hanging in your & our kitchen.
Like you, I love my life, my family & friends & me most of the time.. I think there are lots of us” out there … I ask God every day “am I ok ? He gives me strength to carry on so guess I’m ok!
Good morning Tracey.. oh my this story is me too.. I go like a crazy chicken every day. I need to slow it down…but my inside voice says “you got more to do” and I do it! My flowers in my courtyard are important to me ‘cause that is my little get away from inside’. B says “sit down & rest awhile”. My Neuropathy says the same. PI chuckle & keep going! Since he had his stroke (1 year ago this past Apri), I feel I am two people in one body doing what I’m meant to do…taking good care of this guy I’ll soon be married to for 61 years.. and the other is a ray of responsibilities that I’ve always had…See ya later got to water my flowers in courtyard, get ready to meet friends for lunch & oops ????, a few other things..and I love what I’m able to be & do!!
Love the poem. If you wrote that…it needs to be framed & hanging in your & our kitchen.
Like you, I love my life, my family & friends & me most of the time.. I think there are lots of us” out there … I ask God every day “am I ok ? He gives me strength to carry on so guess I’m ok!
I did write that poem and it was like God laid it on my heart. You have always been such a go getter and I think I have that trait too and it’s so hard to slow down… especially too when you have a lot on your plate like you do, you’re a wonderful caregiver to Bob I am sure, but also to people you meet along the way, you always have been, and even your flowers reap that gift… although I think those are a place of peace and stillness at times. Prayers for us all to find more stillness. Love you my friend.
Busyness is one of the tools in Satan’s toolbox that he uses to keep us from being still. Not just physically still but mentally still.
Sometimes we even wear our busyness like a badge of honor. I think we have to purposely turn our attention away from the thought that we always have to be accomplishing something and focus on God and the abundant life He has for us.
It’s hard and takes time. I am a work in progress on this because I struggle with the same guilt that I should be doing something.
I totally agree, Diane, and yes, it is so hard. I am ashamed that I feel I’ve worn that badge of honor, different ones, over the years and I am not sure why. At what cost? Peace is a high price to pay. I am prayerful for more stillness… for all of us.
You spoke my heart. I needed to hear these words because I am feeling the same way. My favorite scripture is Be still and know I am God, but I got ants in my pants and can’t be still. I need to slow down so I can hear Him.
I totally get it… I want to turn the world off so many days and just can’t seem to drown out the noise, especially that racing in my brain and heart. Prayers for us all to find more stillness.
Stillness in my soul often eludes me too. I am able to physically stop and search in my mind for it. Sadly there are very few moments where my thoughts stop long enough to truly feel “still and quiet”. I like your poem; it feels so kind and loving ❤. Thanks for being with us on this journey!
I totally relate to everything you said… I love that I still have some get up and go and creative juices flowing but there are days I so want to turn them off and can’t. Prayers for us all to have more stillness.
Tracey, this is definitely me!! Thank you for the reminder that it’s ok to be still. God Bless you my friend! ♥️
Love you Louise!