One of the coolest things about walking in the purposes and plans God has for you is how much you actually love your life. It’s perfectly designed for you. Your unique niche in God’s kingdom not only serves a divine purpose, but it also makes you unbelievably happy…because it fits you at the core of who you are, what makes you tick, what fulfills you, what makes life fun for you. This became very obvious to me this week.
Last Friday at 2 a.m., I finally got the call I’d been waiting for for 3 weeks: Jennifer was finally in labor. So Mom and I made the 7 hour drive to North Carolina to assist in her homebirth. The 4 days I spent at my sister’s house were in such contrast to my life here that I couldn’t help but realize how different our Kingdom niches were. Jennifer exemplifies all things “mother” and “domestic.” Her life pretty much revolves around raising Keziah (and now this new one, Reuel). Her days are all cooking, cleaning, crafts, shopping, cloth diaper washing, and educating (K already knows her colors and so much more). Her house is a quiet, calm place. Her food is simple (organic and natural). Nature, which surrounds her house and shows up in her children’s names is obviously important to her. She has a lower carbon footprint than me, her Biology-teaching sister. Jennifer leads a very inward-focused life. She values peace and family, calmness and sereneness. She loves her life! And I am happy that she is so happy with it. But this is sooo not me.
The first days I was at my sister’s I had a blast. I loved helping her with her delivery. The science of it still fascinates me. I loved playing with Keziah, especially now that she talks more. By day 2 though, I was going nuts. Before I left for NC, I had thought about how much I needed a break. I’ve been working 13-14 hour days. With the gym and everything else, life has been crazy. As we came back through Nashville on the way home, I realized how much I was looking forward to getting back to that crazy life: life full of students and athletes, colleagues, family, and friends. Life full of people that crack me up, even life full of people’s baggage and teenager’s drama. My house life with my giant smelly dog, loud video games and phones that never stop ringing and beeping with texts. A life that demands constant flexibility and creativity in teaching and coaching. My life is like my running: always moving, the scenery is always changing, my heart is often racing.
So neither my nor Jen’s life is ‘better’. But I can honestly say I would be miserable living her life, but that’s because God didn’t create me for it. She would go crazy living my life. I know people who are miserable because they are living someone else’s life. If everyone would just embrace what God designed them for, people would be so blessed. So today I thank God for writing a life for me that is the perfect life for me. And I thank Him for doing the same for my sister.
