MAKING SPACE: AN EXPERIMENT IN THINKING HIGHER

At the start of each year I sit down with a large pile of magazines, arm myself with a pair of scissors and go to work creating a vision board for the year ahead. I carefully select images and words that I feel apply to my dreams, wishes and goals that I hope to achieve during the up and coming year. I fill up the entire space of my board and delight in the process of arranging the pictures in a way that inspires and motivates me to become better and more focused through out the year.

This year as I was going through my normal routine of filling up my vision board I made the decision to try something different. For the first time, I have left a corner space blank on my vision board. I have left it blank, left it open and have left room, for God to inspire me and to lift me higher. I know He has a plan for me in this life and this year I want to allow Him to direct my days, to direct my heart and to lead and guide me throughout of the year.

Every year when I write a plan and set goals, I find God decides to surprise me, by blessing me with opportunities that I could never have dreamed of. He sees that I am motivated, that I have the desire to progress and to move forward and then places adventures and the right set of circumstances in my path to reach my own goals I have planned and also for those God wants to experience as well.

In the past I have been surprised to see God lifting me higher by having my writing published in a book, by being blessed with a multiplicity of blessings with twin boys, by being able to overcome illness, by supporting me through depression, by having the opportunity to talk on radio about parenting, by having the strength and energy to run a marathon and by finding the courage to tell my story of overcoming childhood abuse.

As I look back on these wonderful blessings, I can see that the only reason they happened was because I left room for God in my life. When I crowd my life with activities that serve no purpose or I find that I am too busy to listen to what God's will is, I find I miss opportunities and lose sight of my dreams and goals. I start to doubt my abilities, begin to feel frustrated and feel like achieving my goals is impossible.

So this year my desire is to de-clutter my life, to make time to listen more and to allow God to lift me higher. It may not be in the way I want or expect but I know that I will learn and grow and become more like Him in the process. This makes leaving the space worthwhile and it helps me to feel excited about the year ahead. I have no idea what God has planned for me, for what new gifts and talents I may need to develop and for what stretching I may be required to do. All I know is that I am not alone on my journey and that is enough for me.


I am a blogger, writer, chocolate lover, kitchen dancer, jewellery addict, commuter bus driver, happiness seeker, home decorator and motherhood advocate. Yes, I am the mother of seven children or cherubs as we like to call them and I am also the wife to a wonderful spunky man, Matt. We are a crazy bunch. A normal day involves tantrums, washing, dramas, washing, dancing, washing and singing. Did I mention the washing? As a family we are a work in progress and I like that.