You are the one for the job
“God will continually revitalize you, implanting within you the passion to do what pleases him. ”
The older I get, the more convinced I am that God wants to do great things on this earth through us, His children.
Man oh man - I sure do not want to miss out on all that He has in store for me to do. You either?
In my twenties and thirties, I may have had this same passion to dream big with God for my future, but I lacked some basic common sense and valuable wisdom to go along with it.
I’m now in the later part of my forties praying for God to continually revitalize me with passion to do what pleases Him.
Oh how I want to run this race well.
This morning He nudged me to jot down a few things He’s showing me about my faith walk:
-Every week should include a sacred sabbath. And I get to be in control of when and how I’ll choose to practice it.
-Nothing happens by chance. The truth is that we get to partner with God, but we have to be willing to do the hard work.
-There is a time for dreaming BIG with God but there is also a need to put a plan in place for it to be fulfilled.
- I am finite. I have limits. I can burnout, therefore; self-care and healthy disciplines must be put in place to protect me from myself.
-The hard seasons I’ve endured required tenacity and grit and I’ll need them again and again.
-Building a Godly family takes an entire lifetime not just one season.
-My best years are ahead of me. This is a mindset I’ll need to embrace going forward.
What kind of home are you building?
My days only go by faster the older I get. Your’s too?
I thought they’d slow down as the kids grew up, but now I know, that was only foolish thought.
In years to come, my greatest hope is that our home will be filled with all kinds of rare and beautiful treasures that can only come from a house that was built by wisdom, understanding, and knowledge.
Lord, please give us the strength to build our home with meaningful moments, sacred prayers, loving embraces, and unlimited grace.
“By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.”
A thrill of hope…
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds”
I remember how excited I was back in 2007 to start my first blog page. It was before I learned of Facebook and just after I figured out how to doctor up a MySpace page to showcase my world in the way I wanted it to be conveyed.
With each entry, I tested the waters with my comfortability on how much was too much to share about my real life.
Along the way, I discovered writing always brought new layers of healing to my heart and I would often hear from others about how they could relate to what I would share.
I’m not sure if it’s me or the world that has changed and contributed to the lessoning of my entry’s. Probable both.
I’ve been working on a little book project for the last few years and I’m only about 45% finished with it. I used to push projects out much faster than I do now. I’m writing a 100-day devotional to the woman whose rebuilding after divorce.
Every time I get the nudge to write a vulnerable post on Insta or FB, I stop myself and remind myself that those words are not for those spaces. They are best shared here or in the book that is taking me forever to write.
100+ pages dedicated to the processing that has taken all these years to finish one single book.
Rebuilding after divorce is a journey filled with really good days and really hard days. And I’m excited to share about some of the ones I’m living through.
The modern Proverbs 31 woman
In today’s highly-stimulated and social world, we are bombarded with images and short videos of random people’s lives which is fed to us by some algorithm so they say.
I’m not sure what your feed looks like, but I’d love to tell you what mine does. I see young women wearing overalls and sundresses while carrying babies on their hips as they prepare to plan their next family meal. I see more and more outdoor clothes-lines, vegetable and flower gardens, chicken coops, and front porches.
In today’s highly-stimulated and social world, we are bombarded with images and short videos of random people’s lives which is fed to us by some algorithm so they say.
I’m not sure what your feed looks like, but I’d love to tell you what mine does. I see young women wearing overalls and sundresses while carrying babies on their hips as they prepare to plan their next family meal. I see more and more outdoor clothes-lines, vegetable and flower gardens, chicken coops, and front porches.
I see women who want to love their husbands well and mother their children just the same. I see young entrepreneurs who are committed to finding creative ways to make some money from home so they can raise their own babies.
I see women passionate about eating healthy, cooking from scratch, and having time to rest. I see women who are willing to make sacrifices and shop at thrift stores because their values drive them. I see women who have deep faith that aren’t afraid to march to a different beat.
I see you! I do and it makes my heart so happy.
The older I get, the more I know who I am and who I am not. No judgement for the women out there who don’t desire this kind of modern Proverbs 31 life. To each is their own, truly!
Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character
Proverbs 31: 10-31
A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants.
She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.
She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.
In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.
She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom,and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
Do you need a shift?
“He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.”
My favorite farm guy and I have been tucked away in a nice little cottage on Lake Charlevoix for the week. Lord knows it couldn’t have come at a better time. Life at home has been busier than we would like it to be in every way imagineable. It’s been the kind of season where you feel like you’re showing up to everything half put together.
Morning after morning, we have sat hand-in-hand looking out over the water and reflecting on what pieces of our lives need to make a shift for the colder months ahead. It’s been a time for reprioritizing our future days in order to get the results that matter most for our family.
Blended families know all too well how limited family time can be and one thing that my guy and I are passionate about is providing quality family time when we’re all together. We recognize this is one of the best gifts we can give to our kids.
We want all ten of them to enter our doors only to be met with a strong sense of calm, because that’s what’s missing in this busy world.
Between our four youngest, one of them has had an extracurricular practice every night of the week, and together, as many as 6-8 games to play throughout the week ranging from 15 minutes away to 2.5 hours away.
On top of that, we just took on a new business endeavor securing a whole new property that needs some TLC. Not to mention the two companies we already own, as well as the nonprofit we run, and the church I do administrative support for.
We’re so grateful to have a small hobby farm that offers each one of our souls the tranquility it needs when we’re able to be home together.
What does your family life look like? Are you showing up half-put-together? Is it time for some reprioritizing?
Here’s your encouragement to reevaluate what you want to offer your kiddos when they come home.
30 Years
I can't even count how many reflective thoughts have come these past few weeks. I'm watching another one of my boys become a man right before my eyes. Another freshman year has come our way.
I've heard it said before that we get the opportunity to live multiple lives within a lifetime and I can sure attest to that.
My oldest boy started school in 2001 and my youngest will graduate in 2031.
Thirty years.
Thirst years of going back-to-school shopping.
Thirty years of drop off and pick up lines.
Thirty years of packing lunches.
Thirty years of meeting new teachers.
Thirty years of helping in classrooms.
Thirty years of going on field trips.
Thirty years of soccer sidelines.
Thirty years of hosting friends for sleepovers and learning to let go at the same time.
Thirty years of birthday parties.
Thirty years of goodnight conversations and bedtime prayers.
Thirty years of preparing for graduation and the one day open house that will come.
Thirty years of preparing someone to leave our home.
Thirty years of laboring in prayer.
Thirty years of so much more than anyone could care to read.
I recognize that not every mama gets thirty years like I will have, which makes me forever grateful.
How is it that thirty years can feel so long and so fast at the same time?
Cherish your days young mamas for the years will disappear before your eyes.
Slow down…
We had our first week home with the kids last week and boy was it busy. From library runs, tending to the animals, and trying to stay hydrated with the extremely hot temperatures, we managed to end our weekend together with a bang.
We had our first week home with the kids last week and boy was it busy. From library runs, tending to the animals, and trying to stay hydrated with the extreme heat, we managed to end our weekend strong.
Gone are the days of little ones. We have quickly moved into a season of maturing young humans and with each new year, I find myself mourning the loss of their younger years. The days of carefree play while riding bikes in their pajamas and made up names to accompany their wild imaginations. Oh how I miss sweet, Thee Thee.
For I know where we are headed next because I’ve done this before. I have real adult humans already and I know how quickly the teenage years will go.
Dear kids… Please know this. We love our days with you, especially our summer ones. They allow for longer stays and lasting memories. And although they tire us out as well… We wouldn’t have it any other way. <3
A better way
What if the American dream isn’t really a desirable dream at all?
I was having a conversation with a young mama the other day. She’s kind, smart, and driven. She graduated recently from grad school and has a very promising future career in the medical field.
In all of her years of pursuing the dream to be successful with some profound profession, I could see it in her eyes.
It was a longing for rest.
Chasing the “American Dream” has tired her young soul right out.
I could sense the longing hope from her heart…. “Please tell me, there’s more to life than this.”
Yes, sweet friend, there is. But it will not look the way you thought it should.
In order to find what your heart is searching for, you may have to surrender your life more fully to Him. And there’s no guarantee what you’ll find there when you do, but it will lead you to a better way.
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.”
I won’t stay silent
Oh friend…
There was a time when I used to cower in shame. There was a time when I questioned my abilities as a wife and mother. There was a time when I wondered what my life would become, and there was a time when I dreamed of traveling the world.
Each of those times were over a span of many years and yet they were very much a part of my journey.
When you find yourself secure with where life has planted you, you just might become tempted to live the rest of your life… safe.
Nobody would care and nobody would notice, but you would know.
You would know.
You would know that you weren’t gifted this beautiful life to stay silent. And you would know that the stirring inside your heart was for more than just yourself.
Because when God puts your life back together after it has fallen apart, you hold the keys to hope.
Friend, you’re not alone.
I may not like it now-but.
“Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.””
There is always an internal wrestle for me when I sit down to write and share things on here. A good rule of thumb I like to go by is whether or not I’ve worked through it already or if it’s something I’m still working through.
Not that I can always do it perfectly, but prayerfully, I do try.
This is a subject I often think about since it has affected so much of my adult life. I’d like to believe that I have grown over the years with how to navigate this world of coparenting and I would like to believe that it is God who nudges me to share at times.
I’d also like to believe there’s someone special out there whose heart these words need to find.
I can still remember the fear I had many years ago as I pulled up to meet my former husband for dinner along with our 3 sons. I knew the plan was to have a conversation together about our parenting time. Up until then, I had had the majority of time with our boys and their father only had every other weekend with them.
As we sat there and allowed for the boys to vulnerably share with us what they would like to have happen with our arranged time, the boys admitted they would like to spend equal time at their father’s home as well.
Before we left that evening, we came up with a new agreement for parenting time.
And then the boys began to spend half of their time at their father’s home from there on out.
Did it sting at first? Yes.
Was it the right decision for our boys? Yes.
Just in case you’re reading this and you’re unfamiliar with my story, let me catch you up to speed.
I went through my first divorce when I was 29 years old and began my coparenting journey with their father. Our 3 sons are now all in their mid-20’s, married, and living on their own.
I went through my second divorce when I was 39 years old which is when I began my coparenting journey with their father. Together we have 2 boys who are 13 and 10 years old who have been spending equal time with their father and I for the last 6 years.
Why do I share all of this in such a public forum?
Because maybe just maybe there’s a mama out there who is struggling with what to do about the new set of circumstances she has found herself in. Maybe life hasn’t went the way you thought it would go and now you’re traveling your way through a divorce. And maybe just maybe you’re fighting to keep all the time with your kids you can, because no one ever divorces their own kids.
I get it. I get all of it. And my heart hurts to know the world has so much of this kind of pain.
It just shouldn’t be so.
But here’s the truth. Your life will move on and you will find a new way. It’s going to be okay. I promise.
But dear mama’s - please hear this too.
You’re kiddos need their daddy. They really do. And that’s not a bad thing. It’s just a thing.
If you have it within your power to heal their heart, would you? Would you do whatever it took to help them with their hurts?
——
Have I done everything right with coparenting? 100,000% - No.
Will I ever regret sharing their time with their father? 100,000% - No.
Has it helped our coparenting relationship, which in turn, helps our boys? 100,000% - Yes.
My prayer is that my vulnerability will help someones coparenting journey. Even just one family. Then this was 100,000% worth it.
<3 Hugs.
How do you know when you are healed?
“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!” ”
As I sit here and look out the window into our beautiful backyard, I can’t help but be thankful for the scenery that God has gifted me with this morning.
My goodness, God has been so good.
My brother called a bit ago just to tell me again how happy he is to see me living this life of mine . He does that from time-to-time.
We chatted for a while and talked about life as we often do. We have both walked through some tough times which have shaped us into who we are today. And thankfully we have learned to like ourselves along the way.
I don’t think the younger me knew how to appreciate what the older me does. Maybe, she was just too busy looking at things that didn’t matter?
Or maybe she was just too wounded from her past and she needed to find more healing before she could really embrace what was before her.
Lord knows, she needed grace.
Tucked away here in these woods, my favorite farm guy, has loved my heart so well. Gentle and compassionate, his way of loving me has brought such security to my once wounded soul.
I think one of the ways you know you’re healed from your past is when you can look back at what you’ve been through with gratitude.
I barely remember the ruins for the rebuilding and restoration has been just too beautiful to remember anything less than that.
Are healed yet?
What do you want?
“Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us”
I was sharing with my daughter-in-law about what God has been showing me lately and now I feel inclined to share it with you too.
This time of year always puts me into a time of reflection. You too?
A time where I pull out my dream board and take a look again at what I mapped out before the year began. And somehow it always seems to lead me to a new season of dreaming with God all over again.
This year we have expanded some things on our farm as we’ve learned more about homesteading and I know we’ve only just begun to scratch the surface with where else this will take us.
When I think back to my dream years ago to have property again for chickens, I don’t think I let myself dream much beyond that. Yet here we are adding more animals to our farm and working on a farmstand for next summer.
Although I may not have known, God certainly did.
I’d be lying if I said that I wasn’t a bit scared about the future of dreaming with God. For so long, my dreams were about my family and where we would be venturing together while the kids were still living at home. I have not been able to dream pass this season of life - yet.
Yes, we’ve talked about it from time to time, but that is as far as it’s went.
Until now.
It’s as if God is prepping me to begin the journey with Him, because He knows my mama heart is going to need proper time to prepare for the changes that will come during that chapter.
Because here’s the deal..
We have been saying that it’s our dream to have more property and a larger farm someday.
And here’s the truth of how that makes me feel today…
What joy would any of that be without kids to enjoy it with us?
So I began this little dance in dialogue with God.
Me: God - what would you want us to do with more land?
God: What would you want to do with more land?
Me: I have no idea!
God: That’s okay. Just think about it. You don’t have to know just yet.
Me: huh?
And that’s as far as the conversation has went.
To any of you mama’s out there who may be living your best life right now while your kids are still home.
Here’s something for your heart today. It’s okay to dream for what’s next. In fact, He might be waiting for you to do so.
Here’s your sign friend.
As the season has shifted with our kid’s starting school and the leaves changing colors, I have found myself in a much more reflective state. You too?
It always seems to happen to me around this time of year. In many ways, things have sped up with extracurricular’s on our evening and weekend calendar, but my days have slowed down and provided space for deeper thoughts.
And boy have they come.
We have had to rearrange our weekly sabbath to compensate our shifting schedule and Friday’s are where we’ve landed… For now.
I’m blessed to have a flexible schedule with work and that I can choose to spend Friday’s at home making preparations for our sabbath’s return.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ...”
I didn’t know how much my soul needed rest until the new season made room for it.
Maybe you are needing rest too, but you aren’t sure where to start or how to get there. Is your soul tired?
I wonder if sabbath is calling your name.
But how do you prepare for sabbath?
For me it started with a fresh cup of coffee, a lit fall scented candle, and Alexa playing some of my favorite worship music. Next I put on my apron and began to bake some bread and planned for our evening meal. Then I began to clean the house and get all of our laundry caught up so that I could enter my rest once 5pm came our way. And throughout the day, I focused on how grateful I am to be living this beautiful life.
And for you, it might look completely different. The best part about making preparations for sabbath is the journey of anticipation for it to come.
One thing that we’ve added is a “Sabbath Day Jar”. And it’s my new little favorite thing. As this week has started, I’ve begun to add things to the jar that I’m planning to do once sabbath comes… And I’ve invited my family to join me with adding to the jar.
Here’s one thing I know for sure… I’m going to enjoy a pumpkin spice latte with oatmilk this week on sabbath. <3
Homesteading
“Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart”
One of my favorite things to do while growing up was to watch tv with my older brother. We would trade nights for who’s turn it was to pick the show. From what I can remember, he often chose MacGyver and I often chose Little house on the Prairie.
As Laura grew up with each new season, so did I.
Walnut Grove sure seemed like a lovely town, minus the Nelson ladies of course!
I wanted to become like both Caroline and Laura Ingalls. They were elegant and wise, hardworking and strong, and they were always kind to the people in their small town.
As a young girl, we lived back off the road where I had room to adventure and dream for my future life. Dad always had a garden he was trying to grow and I loved being outdoors in our back yard, always exploring nature.
Fast forward a few years to my early 20s where I was married and living in my first home on a tiny lot and it was nothing like Walnut Grove.
And things didn’t change for me much when I entered my 30s either. Although life had shifted and I had moved to a larger home with more property, I was still chasing the American dream, so to speak, and didn’t spend much time outside.
But then something clicked during my late 30s after reading a book called Healthy and Free by the late Beni Johnson, and that’s when things really began to look different.
And the world seemed brighter.
Before I knew it, I was buying chickens, eating organic foods, working on a garden, and life was good - until it wasn’t.
After divorce and God colliding our lives in 2018 as a blended family, Travis and I began to dream together of how to enjoy our new home on 10 acres.
We started by adding a few chickens, clearing some trees for pasturing, tending to our already planted rows of blueberry bushes, and growing a mild garden. And then we started adding more fencing, expanded our garden area, planted more fruit trees, and welcomed a couple of babydoll sheep to our farm.
This summer was a year of expansion for our homestead and with it has come a so many new ideas.
As a blended family, our lives are often interrupted and so we’ve had to be a little more intentional with finding ways to connect with each other at home. And one of the ways we’ve done that is with spending time together outdoors on our property.
As we have done this, a new little dream has formed that we are so excited to share with our world - in person and online.
We are going to be opening a roadside farm stand next summer and we can’t wait to take you on our journey. In fact, you can follow along with with us over on our new Youtube channel @DeBrot Homestead … We’ve already begun to put some fun little videos on there of our farm.
Our best days are right now
I discovered Cory Asbury’s new song called ‘These are the Days’ and it has me in all the feels.
Having kiddos in my 20s and 30s has allowed for me to experience the gravity of motherhood.
It makes me want to tell every young mama to cherish her days and not to sweat the small stuff all the while, reminding myself.
From diapers-to-wedding days and everything in-between, the days slipped right on by.
Just around the corner, we’ll be starting another school year and all the fall sports too, and it may feel exhausting.
BUT…
I know that these are the days I’ll want back with everything in me so I’m determined to make them count.
Cheers to my mama friends. <3
Just a spark…
“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin...”
Months ago I wrote about how I was trying to get to know our neighbors better. The spark started back in March when my husband and I were in Orlando, Florida for a conference. We heard Jay Pathok speak about neighboring and the gift of hospitality. He co-authored the book titled, The Art of Neighboring.
After listening to Jay speak about his own journey with trying to be a better neighbor, I was inspired to come home and live more intentionally with my neighbors. So, in May a group of us went through Jay’s book together at the 1M Project where many more sparks were lit around Muskegon.
I decided to rope our kiddos in to help with our efforts and in June we road our bikes around the neighborhood to pass out homemade invitations to a party we were hosting.
Last Saturday was our first neighborhood party! Yay God.
We had neighbors walk over and drive over in golf carts which was super fun. Even the local neighbors who run a side yard farm-stand joined us and so many connections were made. We heard fun stories and learned of ways to pray for our neighbors.
And the best part is that we are now planning a fall party with a tractor ride through the woods.
My heart is so happy.
Praying this sparks something in you. <3
Modeling Matters
“Anyone who does not love, does not know God, because God is love. ”
Years ago I had a dry erase board on our fridge where I would post a new little saying each week. Of course, at the time, the ones I was most interested in reaching with my words were my five young sons. Although that board is long gone, the inspiration and thought behind it still remains.
I have such a deep desire to inspire my kiddos to love Jesus and to love others too. But not just with my words because words can be empty without a little action put to it. Am I right?
Our kids learn how to love others by watching us love others.
I can tell my kiddos to be nice all day long and that’s fine and good, but if I’m not nice, then I’m failing them.
I can tell them to love Jesus and even take them to church, but if that’s all I do with my faith, then how much will they really love Him?
I can tell my kids to think of others before themselves, but they won’t know what that means until they see me doing it firsthand again-and-again.
I can tell my kids to spend time with Jesus, but they just won’t get it unless they see it modeled for them.
I can tell them they need to forgive, but then I must show them what forgiveness looks like.
Our kids will love others they way we’ve taught them to.
Hers+His = us <3
My son David bought John Mark Comer’s book titled, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, for me for mother’s day this year.
I decided to take the day off today since I’ve been fighting a cold for the last few days and woke up with a migraine this morning.
While sipping on our coffee, me and my favorite farm guy talked about this busy life we live.
Has the world sped up for everyone else too or is it just us?
I grabbed my new book and headed outside to rest in the sun.
After another chapter read, I snapped the picture above and messaged my son:
When the kids are off to college, I’m going to write a New York’s best selling book about how to navigate a blended family.
To which he replied:
I don’t doubt that honestly.
We’ve learned so much already.
Another few years and we’ll have so many nuggets to share.
But for now… Here’s a few things I’ll mention.
Parents, take care of yourselves.
You don’t have to say yes to everything.
It’s okay if you can’t make it to every-single-thing. (I promise).
M A I N T A I N I N G…
“The servant who knows what his master wants and ignores it, or insolently does whatever he pleases, will be thoroughly thrashed. But if he does a poor job through ignorance, he’ll get off with a slap on the hand. Great gifts mean great responsibilities; greater gifts, greater responsibilities!”
My favorite farm guy and I spent about five hours together on the road the other day.
Road trips are the best place to dream, aren’t they?
We found ourselves talking about the future. Somehow our conversations always head in that direction. Yours too?
From traveling the US-to building a cabin someday-to farming with more animals-to scaling and selling businesses-to ministry life-to writing more books and so forth… the trip allowed for a wide spectrum of thought.
I remember encouraging a young mama friend of mine years ago with this thought: Every five years, things shift dramatically for us mama’s.
What seems like an eternal season will certainly not be… For a season is always... temporary.
It’s hard to believe that we will be celebrating five years of marriage this summer. We’ve navigated the early stages of blending our lives together, which we have found takes more patience and nurturing than we imagined.
All the while we’ve been intentional with contemplating what life will look like down the road for us once the kids are all chasing their dreams too.
Yes, we have had to push pause on some things that we really love, because life needs us to be present with where we are right now. And life is busy!
In the meantime, we focus on maintaining what we have been entrusted with until He gives us more.
The next five years will bring so much change. Lord teach me to embrace today.
. Right here
“You do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.”
It seems like most of my life has been lived disconnected from reality. You too?
Let me explain..
As a little girl, I played house with my friends and conjured up a different fairy tale everyday.
As a young teen, I longed to drive and date someday.
As a teenager, I just wanted independence and adulthood.
As a young adult, I started wanting everything.
Now as a middle aged woman, I find myself thinking of empty nesting and retirement.
Hardly ever have I been content with where I am in the moment.
Forgive me Lord.
How do you practice being present?
For me - I’m learning that it has to be intentional. It’s not just going to happen on its own.
It looks like:
Putting the phone down.
Taking slower steps.
Sitting down when I listen.
Leaning in and lingering a little longer.
Locking eyes with the one who needs my attention in that moment.
Letting go of past regrets.
Embracing where God has me today.
Help me Lord.