Hey there, friend and welcome back to the Joy at Home Podcast. We have been having some really great conversations on the show lately…
Interestingly, all the while, the thought of a “slow down” has been burning in my heart and mind since Mid-Summer.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 says “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens…”
I don’t know about you, but sometimes I forget about the seasons, and the fact that rest is actually really important. I have a tendency to live fast and with insane amounts of drive and passion and go and go and go, but the truth is… even I need to take a break sometimes. Even I need to slow down. That’s what my soul is craving in this season… a long, beautiful slow down.
Because while it’s totally okay to be passionate and to chase your dreams, it’s also okay to let up a little bit.
It’s okay to be wife and mom, and to enjoy it, and to savor it and to realize that it’s actually your #1 mission field. It’s okay to be a homemaker. That needs to be shouted from the mountain tops.
I’m definitely not against the moms who are working outside the home by any means, but those of you who are stay at home moms…. Let me speak to your heart that you are not less than. You are so much more than “just a mom,” even if you stay home during the day with your kids. Bless you for doing that precious holy work!!!! It’s OKAY to not go 100 MPH all the time. It’s okay to be home and to be content.
You know, women… moms… we wear a lot of hats and the world kind of screams at us that we need to be good at everything and that we need to do everything… that’s such a lie.
The truth is… God has us in unique places and stages and he simply calls us to lean on him and to keep growing. We can’t do it on our own and it’s so dang stressful trying to… It’s stressful trying to juggle all the things, trying to figure it out, trying to do everything right…
All this is to say that…. for me right now, God seems to be calling me towards a season of rest and growth in Him. To lay down all the busyness, the things that are taking my time and attention and to focus on growing in his word and wisdom and to focus on living just a little bit slower and to be a faithful steward of where he has me in life right now. To reflect more and pray more… and to stress and hustle less… To lean into the good stuff, the hard stuff, the deep, rich stuff.
And so… I’m pressing pause on the podcast for the time being. And I’m so at peace with that decision. It did NOT come lightly.
This podcast has been an absolute joy to create. It’s stretched me, grown me, blessed me… and I really believe that it’s done the same for you. That’s my hope and prayer.
The podcast itself is not going anywhere. It will remain on all the podcast platforms and there are over 200 episodes for you to listen through… episodes on marriage and motherhood and Christian Living and homeschool, minimalism, how to live a joy-filled life and so much more…
I’ve been creating episodes for 4.5 years now. That’s so wild! Good, but wild! It’s been an absolute passion project, but also a LOT of work. And it’s time for a break…
Will I still be over here creating things? Absolutely. God put an untamable, creative spirit inside me and I literally can’t go very long without the urge to create. So take a peek at my website once in a while to see what’s new… KatieHedrick.com
But I’m also going to be still some, I’m going to practice contentment and gratitude a little more and I’m going to purposefully slowww down.
When the kids ask me if I want to play cards after dinner, in this season, I’m going to answer with a resounding YES instead of a “no, I can’t, I have to go do work.”
I’m striving to be a more intentional wife and mom this season, little by little. Little by little adds up to a LOT. And I know it’s going to bear good fruit.
So, let me leave you with this question… what if you slowed down, just a bit, with intention?
What if you lived just a little slower on purpose, what if you focused on contentment and gratitude, what if you paused to actually look for joy (you’ll find it!).
I pray this gives you the encouragement and the confirmation you need to be brave enough to take a break, however big or small it needs to be. Taking a break doesn’t mean that anything’s wrong, or wrong with you. It’s just a season, and that’s where I’m at and I’m so at peace about it.
I have no idea how long the break will be… I’m trusting that the Lord will lead my heart on that. He’s been with me every step of the way and He’s been the wisdom behind every episode of this podcast and everything that I’ve created so far.
With that, I want to say thank you, I appreciate you so deeply and I’m sending you a great big hug from behind my microphone. Keep living with deep faith and great joy.
4 Ways I can Help You…
- Podcast | Joy at Home features 200+ episodes of Christian Living Tips, Homeschool Help and Guest Interviews! Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
- Christian Life Coaching | FaithFueledBreakthrough.com
- Homeschool Help | FirstStepsToHomeschool.com
- Time + Home Management | WisdomWomanAcademy.com
