I wanted to pull the covers over my head this morning.

I am so tired.

It’s just TOO MUCH...

Too much to do.

Too little time.

Too many sad stories.

Too much social media.

Too many opinions.

Too many words.

Too many triggers.

Too much negativity.

Too much hatred.

Too much pain.

Isn’t it all just TOO MUCH sometimes????

Sometimes the reality of this very REAL life is too hard for my fragile heart.

But as a wife and a mother and a Christian and a neighbor and a physician and a fellow citizen of this very broken world…

I CANNOT bury my head in the sand.

I CANNOT run away!!

But just for today…

Today is a day for gentleness.

Gentleness for my neighbors.

Gentleness for the hurting people of this world.

Gentleness for me.

I skipped doing anything ‘productive’ this morning for a little extra rest.

I'll be taking a long walk in the warm air with the kids on their bikes instead of my regular run.

And I think it seems like a sprinklers-in-the-backyard kind of afternoon and a pizza-on-paper-plates-with-pop kind of night.

Today I’m fixing my eyes on the goodness that surrounds me.

Today I’m seeking beauty and kindness.

Today I’ll count my many, many blessings.

Today I’m going to smile and breathe and feel the sun on my face.

Today I’ll pray and remember Jesus is right by my side.

There is time for productivity and change and growth and learning and stretching myself and facing hard things. The rest of my life, actually.

I know there is so much ugliness and pain in the world. And there is SO MUCH to do.

But there is beauty here, too.

And goodness and kindness and so many blessings and warm sunshine on my face and Jesus.

I’m just going to breathe it in.

Breathe.

Breeeeeaaaaaathe.

Only gentleness today, my friends.

Want to join me???