Today is short and sweet, my friend. I want you to imagine you and I sitting on my back porch. A fire crackling. Hot chocolate (with marshmallows, of course). We let down our guard as we share how chaotic the world feels. We admit we aren’t sure what to do, but how we long to do something. We talk about how chaos makes us feel uncertain.  We admit that we lie awake at night with thoughts tumbling around like a penny in a jar.

As you and I sit around that fire, I want to remind us of things we can do when life feels chaotic:

• We can guard what we put into our heart

• We can choose connection with God, who loves, loves, loves us

• We can surround ourselves with (and be) healthy community

Guarding what we put in our heart means we don’t doom scroll news and memes until our eyes are bleary and our soul is weary. We choose to be connected, but not consumed.

Choosing connection means we talk with God about everything that is weighing us down. We make time for him in our busy lives, finding quiet in a world that is loud. We ask for a measure of his peace, because ours is low.

Choosing healthy community is giving ourselves permission to invite women who love Jesus and are safe into our inner circle. It’s also giving ourselves permission to gently shut the door to unhealthy community. It’s okay sis, to do that. It really is. And last, we become healthy community for others. We use our words to encourage, lift up, and love like Jesus (imperfectly, but intentionally). We won’t  have all the answers but are willing to come alongside and do life together.

So, to my sister who feels overwhelmed, I treasure you. We are in this togetHER.