I’ve always been one to dream big. Having an incredibly meaningful life meant curing my daughter’s diabetes or raising the next Nobel Peace Prize winner. In my mind, I needed to do something monumental to earn the right to attach the word meaning to my life.
As I’ve aged and wisdom started to set in, I’m learning exactly what a meaningful life truly entails. Raising my precious daughter, showing her how to navigate her world with diabetes, is astoundingly meaningful. Teaching my son to be loving and respectful has become so much more important than considering his future achievements.
I’m finally at a place where I love my life. I feel the meaning seep in more every day. It’s taken me 48 years to get here.
When we get so caught up in bigger, better, and more, we seem to forget the beauty in the mundane. Those daily chats with my kids in the car after school. Dinners together, although far too many around a restaurant table, together nonetheless…
God’s plan for us is good. There will be struggles, but He wants us to find joy as well. One of my favorite verses:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
~Jeremiah 29:11
This quest for meaning we all seem to travel at some point can take us away from the present, the gift of today. God has got it under control. He can make our life, at this moment, immensely meaningful.
Sometimes that looks like calling a friend when they are hurting. Or loving our husbands and children when they are literally making us crazy at that very second. Even creating a healthy meal for my family has become a lovingly meaningful act in my life.
Building a meaningful life isn’t about curing a disease or solving world hunger. Although both of those certainly qualify as meaningful, we can find great significance in our normal daily grind. We may just need to look a little harder.
When I’m contemplating world hunger, I remember the precious kids my family sponsors in Africa. Although I can’t feed all the hungry children at this time, I know those 4 little bellies will have food in them today. There is remarkable meaning in that simple monthly check.
Let’s look at our lives with new eyes. Smile at that overworked cashier and ask about their day with genuine concern. We can remind our husbands how much we appreciate them. I know mine should hear those words far more than he currently does.
What are some meaningful aspects of your life you’ve been overlooking? I would love to hear from you in the comments!
As always, thank you so much for joining me on this journey. Subscribe to my newsletter if you would like to receive updates by email. Let’s hang out on Facebook and Instagram as well!
This is a great post! I’ve found myself struggling with what I’m doing with my life (as a stay at home mom) while my mom friends around me are working big jobs, sitting on leadership boards, etc. But I love what you said about being good (and okay) with raising awesome kids, enjoying those few minutes in the car after school, making a homemade meal, etc. At the end of the day, it’s these little things that are the most important. Visiting from Happy Now party.
It really is the little things, Victoria! I couldn’t agree more. I apologize for my late response. I took some time off before my kids started back to school. Those meaningful moments are so worth my complete attention :).
Thank you for sharing and reminding us the importance of being content in all situations. I am so grateful for the support and love of my husband. I believe he knows this but I need to speak the words more often and let him know how grateful I am. I’ve been truly blessed.
I’m very blessed with a wonderful husband as well, Robin. Unfortunately, he definitely gets the worst of me at times. I’m really trying to speak those grateful words to him more. I agree with you that even though they may know it, it’s still nice to hear :).
Hey Candace! It’s nice to meet you. I LOVE that you write about health. I think there’s a reason I’m your neighbor at Purposeful Faith this week. I’ve been activity looking for bloggers who write about health topics – spiritual, emotional, and physical.
I started a new writer share on Mondays and I’m doing my best to create a library of like-minded writers to share their best family, relationship, and health articles each week. I’d love to have you!! Topics like emotional eating and the rest are SO important. They’re also not covered broadly in the Christian blogger realm. I hope you’ll consider gathering as the linkup gains momentum and have a wonderful week!
This sounds wonderful, Meg! Thanks so much for the invite. I’ll definitely come check it out. I apologize for my delayed response. I’ve been on a break getting my kids prepped to go back to school :).
I love this encouragement to find meaning and joy in the dailies. For me, it’s mentoring and spending time with my kids (via telephone with my son) and reaching out to young people, just so they know an adult is interested in their lives.
The dailies are what make up our lives, Betsy. It’s been so emotionally healing for me to find true meaning in those everyday moments. I love what you’re doing in reaching out to young people. They are the future and unfortunately too many of them don’t have any adults giving them the attention they need. Thank you for your beautiful service in that area.
Oh man do I LOVE this! I want to click that tweet about 0 times, ” Building a meaningful #life is about finding the #beauty in our everyday routine.” So true!
Thank you, Jen!! I hope all is well with you and your littles are all settled into school. Sorry for the delayed response. I took a little time off to spend with my people before school started back :). Have a great weekend, my friend!
/ero times, oh gosh thank you auto correct! NOT 🙂 How about 100 times!
I understood what you meant ;). And I got a great laugh from it so thanks for that! Auto correct makes me crazy at times.
Life really is about finding beauty in the little things 🙂
I completely agree, Akaleistar! Our days are made up of the little things so the more we see beauty in those moments, the happier our lives will be :).
Thank you for these wise reminders. It’s so easy to look to the future and miss today.
I find the more I think about the future, the more worried I get, Leslie. I’m really trying to stay in the present. I’m definitely a work in progress with this though :).
And oh how difficult building a beautiful life in the midst of our messy lives can be. Thank you for the encouragement.
It is certainly not an easy task, Alyssa! I couldn’t agree more ;).
Such a meaningful article, Candace. It puts our minds in the proper perspective! Thank you! I’m sharing this!
Thank you, Leslie! I so appreciate your sweet words and the sharing :).
Oh yes, I love this message and always need a reminder to think this way! Sometimes I feel that sense of discouragement for things dreamed that never unfolded- I wonder why or what or how… But sometimes – no OFTENTIMES, I get those “AH… HA!” moments where I see the big passion in the small moments designed specifically for my purpose- and I love it when that happens enough times to realize the greater plan and then peace settles in with fulfillment. I’m getting more wise and seeing more clearly as I get older too, Candace. 🙂 It’s pretty nice, isn’t it?
(Except for the grays… and the wrinkles… and the enlarged hips. LOL)
Those small moments are worth so very much, Chris. I’m with you on that, my friend.
The wisdom we receive with age is priceless, but I could definitely live without the grays, wrinkles, and widening too ;).
Candace- what a great reminder! It isn’t about the big things we do sometimes, it’s the little everyday things!
Visiting from #Grace&Truth
Finding joy in the often monotonous daily life has been life changing for me, Julie. It really makes all the difference :).