khouriascorner

We all have them. Good days and bad ones. What happens when you feel like the bad day has lasted for months, or even years? How hard is it to keep your chin up, when it’s all you can do to get out of bed in the morning? No one ever told me about life’s mundanity. Fun fact: the actual word “mundane” stems from a Latin word “mundus” meaning “world”. Merriam Webster explains that the word has to do with things relating to the world or earth. This is in contrast with those things relating to the heavenly. In other words, things that are mundane relate to things of earth, like our immediate needs or things that we worry about as humans (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mundane#learn-more).

Perhaps this is why the mundane things get us down. When we are down, we are forgetting about the things that should be our main foci in life. In my experience, when I’m down in the dumps, I am not thinking of anything really important. Mostly, I’m tired of the routine. I’m tired of dishes, laundry, taking care of puppies, or paying bills. In fact, I’m fed up with all my chores. I begin to dream of vacation.

We, as Christians, are called to something greater. We are not to worry about the things of life, the mundane, things. We are supposed to keep our minds on heavenly things. The important things. The things that really matter in the long run. This is all to say, that sometimes we find ourselves in a crummy HERE. The key to surviving a mundane HERE is remembering that it is not our FOREVER, because we can affect our THERE. Nothing is forever, unless you want it to be, but how can we escape the mundane? Let’s think for a moment….

Let’s look at the THERE of our lives. Where do we want to be in 20 years? In 20 years, do you plan on working the same job? Do you want to be in the same house? Hopefully, you will want to be married to the same person. If you have kids, they’ll be grown in 20 years. What kind of people do you dream of them growing into? Is your HERE going to be a good path to your THERE? The life you live in the HERE will determine the life you have in your THERE. Even if you are stuck and trapped in a job you hate or a routine that makes you crazy, the THERE should be part of your planning for your future. Create your HERE to get you to your THERE. This is the difference between the mundane and the heavenly. Living a godly life is your THERE. The HERE is just the things you need to do to get THERE, and yes, they can seem mundane. This means, your HERE should be intentional. You need to make time for good books, some Scripture, the Church, good and meaningful kid time, quality family memories, and those things that will help you in your journey to the Kingdom.

WHAT ABOUT THAT SEASON OF LIFE?

Once, I was a broke mom of little kids who never got to go anywhere. It was a treat to drop the kids at Camp Grandma and head to a movie or a couple’s dinner (where I did not have to cut someone’s food into bits). This lasted years, and it was really hard, but it was just the season of life we were in at the time. Kids don’t stay helpless forever, and when they’re old enough to have freedom, you enter a new season. Finally, they fly the nest, and you’re in yet another season. There are things you can to in order to survive each season of life:

1. Never get trapped. Find cheap ways to escape for a day or a weekend. This will require effort. Learn to camp (buy a tent and some sleeping bags). State parks are a great escape, and the family time is priceless. Your THERE will need some good stories to share with the new significant others in your kids’ lives :^) These are the ties that bind, and getting your kids out is a great way to have meaningful conversations with them without the influences that distract them.
2. Prioritize family time and make it sacrosanct. Your family is a part of your THERE; your current boss is not. If your job will not permit you to disconnect, you might need a new job. Do not allow the kids to disconnect during car rides. Ear buds, phones, IPads, and the like have no place during family time.
3. Create a family stupid movie night. When you’re broke, popcorn is cheap, and a good movie is easy (don’t let the kids pick, because they won’t pick the good movies you want them to see). Pick a movie that is quotable or has a good story. Older movies are fun because they’re campy.
4. Binge watch a good series together and ONLY together. We got into Stargate Atlantis because it’s a bit scary but also the good guys always win. This is important. No depressing stories or people getting shot in the head. Good stories. Period. We also like Star Trek and other sci-fi series. Why? Because sci-fi is almost always the type of thing you can watch just for fun!
5. Find a family activity that everyone can do, and learn to like things your kids like. Play CATAN, learn to like VR games, or establish a family game night with snacks and cokes.
6. Go to church EVERY SUNDAY. This routine is the easiest. If the kids behave, grab a donut on the way home or eat a fun lunch. If they don’t behave, you don’t have to beat them because the lunch/treat is enough to miss out on after misbehaving in church. Feel free to reward good behaviors in front of the one who isn’t getting rewarded for good behavior.
7. Lastly, make Sunday family day. Do NOT attend birthday parties and stuff on Sundays. Resist the temptation to participate in sports/dance/school activities on Sunday and reject the coaches and teachers that want to rob you of your Sunday. Teach your kids that Sunday is NOT just another day, because it’s not. You need Sunday to recharge for the week. Don’t miss this opportunity to blob around as a family and maybe even nap. It’s a simple rule for a profound reason.

I pray for you daily. Keep the faith and keep your chin up. Remember that your HEREs and your THEREs are what you make them, and don’t be discouraged when your HERE stinks. It’s just a SEASON OF LIFE!

P.S. Take heart. These suggestions above are things we did with our kids. They are all grown, yet, we still camp together, and we still have movie and game nights. Now, we have included the spouses of our kids and we love spending time together. I am a third level paladin elf in D&D and we all play dumb games together. Who knew this would be part of my THERE, but I wouldn’t have it any other way :^)