Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

  • Home
  • About
  • Books
    • Peace in the Process
    • Bringing Home More Than Groceries
  • Contact

We are loved.

January 15, 2014 by Kristin Leave a Comment

I ignored my to-do list yesterday. Unlike my calendar-crowded Monday, not much had to be done. Plenty could be done. There was {and still is …} a sink full of dishes and a dishwasher waiting to be unloaded. Laundry could be washed. And dried. And folded. And put away. I could have worked ahead on commitments.

But I’m learning to let go.

So I sat in the recliner and read while Ben watched a 30-minute Disney Junior show after lunch. And then we cuddled and laughed. {Quite appropriate I’m reading “Hands Free Mama.”}

I turned my phone on silent and didn’t look at the screen much while I scrapbooked some pictures from April 2012.

I did feed my family, thanks partially to the Crock Pot chicken I prepared in the morning. I got all the dirty dishes near the sink before we left for swim lessons. That all counts for something, right?

My husband asked me a few times if I felt alright. I told him I didn’t feel bad but I didn’t feel good.

I’ve been eating less sugar and drinking less caffeinated cokes. {All soft drinks are coke here, just so you know. Diet Dr Pepper is my coke of choice.} I’ve been more diligent about exercising after a few weeks of pushing my routine to the side. But my blood sugar had been up and down all day.

Even more significantly, my spirit has been regrouping. I feel thoughts and opinions and plans being shifted and tweaked and redefined. God is nudging my heart and prompting my mind.

I’m remembering through ordinary moments that I’m loved by the One who made me. Sometimes I push against that with my stubborn mind, too-harsh words, and selfish ways. Sometimes I see all my physical imperfections when I look in the mirror. But even through my tainted outlook, God loves me.

I’m remembering those around me are also loved by the Creator of this world. I want the people around me, starting with my family and overflowing into others’ lives, to know they are loved by me and by the One much greater. Even when I mess up, God loves them. God loves you with never-ending love too.

And sometimes when all that’s happening inside not much else can happen outside. God’s got a hold of me in a new way. I try to wiggle away when some moments frustrate my soul. But knowing he’s not going to let go is helping me to slowly let go.

I’m letting go of perfection.

And unrealistic expectations.

And the uneasiness that comes with trying to hard to please people for the sake of being liked.

And the irritated voice that yells more than whispers.

And the distracted, overcrowded mind.

This isn’t the first time I’ve let go. I have to intentionally loosen my grip over and over again. Maybe one day it’ll come a little more naturally. But I know it will always require Someone who works supernaturally.

I am loved. You are loved. They are loved. Sometimes I have to let go to be reminded of what actually matters.

What matters isn’t about production for the sake of tasks.

It’s not about perfection for pleasing sake.

And it’s certainly not about control prompted by fear and worry.

What matters is we are loved by the Maker of it all. And that is enough to let go of the rest. That’s what I want to remember when I walk into my kitchen and see those dirty dishes overflowing from the sink on the counter. That’s what I want to cling to when I have a frustrated momma voice rising up. That’s what I want to know in the ordinary moments that make up this life.

________

I’m joining Beth Stiff for Three Word Wednesday, Jennifer Dukes Lee for #TellHisStory, and Holley Gerth for Coffee for Your Heart. These places remind me of God’s never-ending love. 

Want more stories? Like 152 Insights on Facebook. Follow me on Twitter and Instagram. Follow 152 Insights at Bloglovin’. Subscribe to receive “Insights in Your Inbox.”

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Filed Under: books, Coffee for Your Heart, faith, food, life, motherhood, Three Word Wednesday

Comments

  1. kasmith03 says

    January 15, 2014 at 4:28 pm

    Oh those unrealistic expectations…they can tear us apart can't they?! 🙂 Enemy #1 in my book!! Beautiful post friend – so glad you are seeing the ways God is refining you and those things will be a blessing to your family!!

    Reply
  2. Jenn says

    January 15, 2014 at 6:50 pm

    This so speaks to my heart and what I have been struggling with, God loves us completely!

    Reply
  3. KristinHillTaylor says

    January 15, 2014 at 7:26 pm

    Thanks, Kristin! Good to see your pretty face here. Being refined is hard, but I'm thankful for the grace to learn and the peace that always seems to come when I let go.

    Reply
  4. KristinHillTaylor says

    January 15, 2014 at 7:27 pm

    I'm glad. I hesitated about writing it, just because it seemed all over the place. 🙂

    Reply
  5. J. Rae says

    January 15, 2014 at 7:58 pm

    Yes, yes, and yes 🙂

    Reply
  6. KristinHillTaylor says

    January 15, 2014 at 8:00 pm

    🙂

    Reply
  7. Alecia Simersky says

    January 15, 2014 at 8:14 pm

    Beautiful post, Kristin. I'm learning to let go with you. I may have to do it over and over again, but that's ok 🙂 You are loved too, friend!

    Reply
  8. KristinHillTaylor says

    January 15, 2014 at 8:16 pm

    Thanks, Alecia! I'm we don't have to learn it alone!

    Reply
  9. Mel says

    January 15, 2014 at 9:05 pm

    Such good words today…thank you for this. That learning to let go thing…so tough, but so good for ALL of us to do! Happy Wednesday, sweet friend. 🙂

    Reply
  10. KristinHillTaylor says

    January 15, 2014 at 9:28 pm

    You're welcome, Mel. And thank you for your encouragement. Hope you've had a good day!

    Reply
  11. Beth says

    January 16, 2014 at 11:57 pm

    Oh I've been practicing letting go the past two days. Letting go of worry has been my recent need. I'm grateful that as I fumbled back and forth with giving to Him and taking back that He never left my side. We are loved. Three AMAZING words. 🙂
    Love you,
    Beth

    Reply
  12. KristinHillTaylor says

    January 17, 2014 at 1:53 am

    I'm so glad you are experiencing that unconditional love, Beth! You are indeed loved dearly.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Let’s Connect

  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter

About Me

Telling stories is my therapy and I love sharing them with friends on my porch.

The main characters in my stories are my entrepreneur husband, our high school girl who never forgets, our middle school boy who has no fear, and our joy-filled first-grade girl. As we live out our stories, we seek God as the author of them all.

Learn more about my story here.

Subscribe for Updates

Recent Posts

  • How to enjoy motherhood
  • How & why to travel with kids
  • From snow to sand
  • Books of 2022
  • How to enjoy winter days at home

Join the Conversation

Join the Conversation

On Instagram

I needed this weekend. The UK Wildcats didn’t I needed this weekend. 

The UK Wildcats didn’t win this afternoon like I had hoped. But following our house full of people on Friday night, I’ve spent a lot of time on my couch, under a soft blanket, with a book, while I watch #MarchMadness. 

Yesterday I pulled “When We Left Cuba” by @chanelcleeton from my to-be-read stack and then realized it was the second in a series about the Perez family. Thanks to @libby.app, I was able to get “Next Year in Havana” immediately. 

I finished it today during commercials and timeouts. And now I’m going to start “When We Left Cuba” as another basketball game also gets going. 

#KHTreads #basketballseason #weekending #bookstagram #reallife #booklover #librarybooks #KindleOasis #Kindlebooks #favoritethings
What a fun night! Basketball is best with friends What a fun night! Basketball is best with friends and food. So thankful for all these provisions and others in my life. Oh and a Cats win is icing on the cake. 

#MarchMadness #weekending #basketballseason #bettertogether #choosingJOY #BigBlueNation
You know it’s #MarchMadness when Greg Taylor pos You know it’s #MarchMadness when Greg Taylor posts on Facebook — and a picture at that! — and puts his radio/TV degree to work figuring out how to improve the viewing setup. 

#reallife #basketballseason #wifelife #choosingJOY
I had no idea just how deeply I would be affected I had no idea just how deeply I would be affected while studying Genesis 1-2. Going back to the beginning and seeing how God created, ordered, and filled the earth has been exactly what I didn’t know I needed, especially as a mom. 

For quite a while now, I feel like I’ve been living a day at a time. I used to be able to see my life in larger chunks of time and anticipate and prepare accordingly. Now, I slap things on the calendar and then deal with them as they come. Navigating life with two teenagers and a first-grader is the best and hardest thing I’ve ever done.

Honestly, this moment-to-moment living has been good for me and helped me rely on the God who created the stars and rivers that still exist in our world. Focusing on where I am helps me take slower steps, trust God to provide, and remember I’m not in control. I’ve felt an internal shift with my relationships — with my husband, kids, and friends. I’ve felt behind on laundry and dishes and piles of papers. But I’ve also felt a refreshed nearness to God. 

I’m going to rest here while believing God created life and light when there was only darkness and continues to order my days. 

#livingfaithfully #choosingJOY #momlife #faithlife #preceptstudy #genesisstudy #genesis #beginnings #reallife #PorchStories
My friend @ashleelyoung told me about this memoir, My friend @ashleelyoung told me about this memoir, but I knew nothing about Sutton Foster or her story beforehand. She’s a TV actress and Broadway singer and dancer who processes her life — complicated family life, love, loss, spotlight, infertility, adoption, motherhood — by creating. She creates in the kitchen, on stages, with yarn, with paint, with her hands, and with her mind. But her story really is all the experiences and emotions that inspire her creative work. I enjoyed this one. 

#KHTreads #memoirs #bookstagram #booklover #audiobooks #audible #bookreview
Also from the weekend: Shout out to @lifehousemurr Also from the weekend: Shout out to @lifehousemurray for putting on the fabulous @beautiful.you.conference with @meggpam from @shelivespurposefully. My girl and her friends had a great time together and my momma heart is thankful this is how they chose to spend a Saturday morning. 

#momlife #girlmom #teenagers #weekending #livingfaithfully #choosingJOY #latergram
Yesterday was one of my favorite kids of days with Yesterday was one of my favorite kids of days with some of my favorite friends. Kids played inside and out, the TV was never on, and new memories were made with old friends. Plus we ended the night with our ninth year of Little Hands Trivia Night. It was our worst finish ever, but we still had such a fun time! 

#bettertogether #weekending #livingfaithfully #choosingJOY
I’ve told you about Cate’s basketball season, I’ve told you about Cate’s basketball season, but we celebrated it (and the other middle and high school players) last night. What a joy, truly! She was surprise with the Lions Award for her overall approach to the game and her teammates. 

This context is basketball, but the bigger community and broader learning that happens are ultimately even more important. And, hey, middle school boys, you were also so much fun to watch! I’m so thankful Ben was part of that team. 

Shout out to the Schroeders for Tim being the coach of four teams and all the family time sacrificed as well as the other coaches and families who made it all possible. 

Give me a little break, and then I will be ready for more Lions and Lady Lions basketball to come! Scheduling for the fall and winter will start soon. 

I’m so proud to be part of New Covenant Christian Academy! 💛 @ncca.lions #momlife #girlmom #boymom #basketballseason #livingfaithfully #choosingJOY
Once again, I stayed up too late finishing a book. Once again, I stayed up too late finishing a book. 

“Half Way to You” by @jennifergoldauthor was my #FirstReads choice from Amazon this month and I dived right in. I loved it! This is a multi-generational story full of love, heartbreak, friendships that span decades, and travel. The story is told as a reclusive author shares her real story with a young podcaster who has personal and professional interest. The way the lives is woven together is brutal and beautiful. 

#KHTreads #AmazonFirstReads #bookstagram #booklover #KindleOasis #kindlebooks #readersofinstagram
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Favorites

Categories

Archives

Copyright © 2023 Kristin Hill Taylor | Design by Traci Michele | Development by MRM