Life has seemed extra busy lately. In between work, home projects, and life in general, there just hasn’t seemed to be a chance to press pause and breathe for a moment. Thankfully, a few months back we started orchestrating the work schedule to get a day off every other week. Having this day has been such a treat! In retail, you work every day but Sunday and that can turn into a long week!
What has an occasional day off helped me accomplish? I’ve taken care of taxes, returned items that weren’t needed for a refund, helped with new and different projects, worked on a budget, and had time to pause and visit with my family. Life is too short to not get to find perks and joy in the journey!
New Opportunities
Since we work six days a week, my sister and I call this biweekly day off our “Saturday”. She gets a day off one week and I get a day off the next. And then the process repeats! Our “Saturday” may fall on any day of the week, but that’s what we call it and use it as.
I used to joke that with a day off I would probably start another business, but lately, I find myself thinking closer to home. I was raised to be a homemaker and find myself dreaming of having a home to decorate and make my own. What plants I would want in the yard and garden, what features I would look for in a house, noticing neighborhoods and environments.
And this has me excited! Maybe it is because it would let me fulfill a part of my childhood dreams that just aren’t lived up to yet or maybe it’s because that is a woman’s job, to make a cozy home. Either way, I’ve been looking and praying, dreaming and note-taking.
Having a “Saturday” has helped me take a pause and consider life a bit. Not in a bad way, just from a different perspective. Consider what I have done and what I could do. I don’t want to get to 50 and wonder why I didn’t step back and look at life and make adjustments before then.
A New Perspective
That’s not to say I am giving up on my dreams of a man and family. But rather, I can’t help but think the virtuous woman “considers a field and buys it“. She “does her husband good and not evil all the days of her life“. She learns and grows and works to become the best wife she can be, even before she actually is a wife.
I saw a clip online about this. The woman shared that even though there wasn’t a specific man in her life at the time, she worked on becoming a good wife, a good homemaker, and on really embracing her life. She lived in faith of what she knew God was bringing. And after some time went by, that faith was rewarded by a great guy! I really liked that perspective!
It’s funny, I’ve said for a little while now that my dear man had better have his mortgage paid off at this age. I mean he hasn’t had me around to spend his money, so that really doesn’t seem too much to ask! But then, one day I stepped back and considered what I had to show for my age and pondered if I had made good use of the time and resources God has given me. I’ve worked to be faithful were He has placed me, but I feel there is so much growing to be done. So much more potential on the personal side of life that I haven’t even tapped into yet.
Unknown Territory
Sharing all this is out of my comfort zone. It’s like trying to share a lesson I’m in the middle of trying to learn. But my point in doing so is this – God has an incredible plan for each of us and if we will lean in and follow His lead, amazing things will happen! I truly believe that He puts hopes and dreams in our hearts of what He has for us. He inspires us of where He needs us next as He needs us to work in that area.
So if you are like me and pondering how you can be in your late thirties and only just now wondering what to do with your personal life, don’t let it get you feeling behind or insufficient. If you have truly been praying for direction and listening for God’s lead, He knows how to tell you what the next step is. He knows where you are and where He needs you. When you walk in agreement with Him and honor your authority it’s never that you are “late”. God has a different path and timeline for every person!
The territory may be unknown, the process intimidating, change hard to think about. But if God places you on a new path He will direct you every step of the way. The same faithfulness you’ve practiced in other areas of your life has a chance to flex and grow. God’s got you!
A Day Off
It’s funny what all can come from having a simple, bi-weekly “Saturday” and yet, I’m excited by it! Excited that there’s more ahead, excited that there are adventures in my future, excited for clear direction, and excited for a new goal and dream.
What about you? Has this perspective sparked an idea in your mind? Pray and ask God for direction and clarity – He is ever present, eager to have us call on Him!
Until Next Time!
Hope.
PS. Keep reading: https://www.theamericanlady.com/2025/03/05/whats-coming-next/