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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

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October 1, 2012

At a Snails Pace…Simply Sunday

It seems that all summer long my life revolves around one word.

Watering.
For the most part, I actually really enjoy having this job.
There is just something so therapeutic about watching the watering can slowly fill up.
I haul it all around the yard and convince myself that this must count as exercise, right?
Unless I have a little person offering to help mommy with this task, I’m usually by myself.
And, standing over the plants, offering them much needed hydration, I relish the quiet.
I do some of my best thinking and praying while I’m watering.
But, on one particular morning, I was in a hurry to just get it done.
It was getting to that point in the late summer when the watering starts to get tedious.
I hurried out the back door, scooped up the watering can and headed for the faucet.
As I crossed the lawn, I noticed a snail working its way across the grass.
Now normally, around our house, snails and slugs are only seen as enemies which must be destroyed lest they destroy our garden.
But, I was feeling benevolent that morning so I left it alone.
And besides, it was heading away from the garden, not towards it!
As I went about my watering routine, I kept checking back to see how the snail was progressing on its trek across our yard.
Every time I glanced over I was surprised by how much farther along it was.
I mean, it was a snail after all. They’re not known for their speed!

If I stood and watched it, it seemed to be moving so slowly.
But, if I went away and came back, the snail seemed to have covered quite an impressive distance… considering it was a snail.
I wondered if it was being intentional about its goal of reaching the bark just beyond the grass. Could it “see” the final destination or did it just know that it needed to keep moving forward.
And, in that moment, I saw myself in that snail.
Now, that is something I never thought I would relate to!
But, there it was, inching its way along.
 That snail reminded me of where I am currently on my faith journey.
You see, there are things in life that propel us forward very quickly.
Loss, trauma, tragedy, grief.

When these things occur, we are forced to jump ahead.
We rapidly come to new understandings about God and His plan for our lives.
I have had these kinds of occurrences in my own life.
Things which have caused my faith to grow by leaps and bounds.
They may have been painful, but they certainly contributed to a deeper connection with my Savior.
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers (and sisters!), whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking any wisdom.”
James 1:2-4
But, most of the time, I feel like that snail.
Inching my way along.
In this season of my life, I’ve traded leaps and bounds for something slower…more steady.
Between the peaks and valleys of life there are plateaus.

Times when we aren’t experiencing extreme highs or low.
When we are just dealing with the day in and day out stuff of life.
It doesn’t mean that there isn’t movement, though.
Just like that snail, I continue towards my destination…to be more like Christ.
It seems like I’m moving so slowly and yet if I look back I can see just how far I’ve come.  
 On this nondescript summer day I found myself rooting for a snail.
As it got closer and closer to the edge of the lawn, I willed it to keep going, keep trying, keep pressing on. I so admired it’s dogged determination.
When it finally made it to the edge of the grass and onto the bark I wanted to let out a cheer!
You did it little snail!
But then, it just kept on going.
Maybe the bark wasn’t the final destination after all.
Maybe the snail knew that the real goal wasn’t so visible….so easily attained.
And so, like that snail, I continue on towards my goal.
There will be more peaks and valleys along the way.
But there will be even more plateaus.
And in those times when it seems like I am only just inching along, I will remember the snail.
“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3:13-14
Thank you so much for joining me for this Simply Sunday at the Fence,
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Comments

  1. Elaine @ Sunny Simple Life says

    September 30, 2012 at 3:15 PM

    You are kind to let the snail finish its crossing. I give to the chickens so they don’t eat my plants.
    Have a wonderful Sunday.

    Reply
  2. dominique eichi says

    September 30, 2012 at 3:26 PM

    LOvely analogy with our lives. I enjoyed this post very much as I can relate to it but I enjoyed it also for the way you write. Thank you (btw… they are yummy to eat too !! )

    Reply
  3. Susan (My Place to Yours) says

    September 30, 2012 at 3:56 PM

    Vanessa, obviously you and your Creator had a lovely stroll through the yard! There are so many lessons to learn when we slow down and pay attention. From experience, I know that it’s how I spend the slow times that determine how I respond to the situations that rock my world. This was a great “visual” for today. I’m glad you shared it!

    Reply
  4. Judy says

    September 30, 2012 at 5:04 PM

    What a wonderful and important message. Thank you.

    Reply
  5. Sarah @ Modern Country Style says

    September 30, 2012 at 6:34 PM

    Here’s a little joke for you on the snail theme:

    I found a snail in the garden today. I stepped on it and broke its shell. It didn’t die but was looking a little sluggish.

    Boom boom!

    Anyway….on a much better note, I loved this post – thank you!
    Sarahx

    Reply
  6. Yvonne @ StoneGable says

    September 30, 2012 at 11:30 PM

    I LOVE this post! I am a snail too… sometimes a slug… but I hope that I am always moving to my final destination… thank goodness Jesus will get me there one way or another!!! Thanks, dear friends!

    Reply
  7. ECKDesign says

    October 1, 2012 at 1:45 AM

    Beautiful post. Thank you!

    Reply
  8. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    October 1, 2012 at 1:49 AM

    Beautiful story Vanessa….something for all of us to ponder…you are a true inspiration!

    Reply
  9. Christie says

    October 1, 2012 at 6:08 PM

    Vanessa, I enjoyed this so much! Oh, and I can so relate! I am just glad I can run to His shelter or inch slowly, knowing that He is always there! I am enjoying my ‘snail’ position right now…God has brought Rob and me through so much the last six months (and I joke that while we were remodeling our kitchen, God was doing a little remodeling Himself on us!) We are grateful, as the whole process has caused us to slow down and enjoy life more fully and slowly…like that little snail! God is good! Like Dominque, I SO enjoy the way you write…Heather, too! It is a gift! Have you ever thought about this? God says, “Make known among the nations what he has done.” Psalm 105:1 Writing for the Lord on a blog is our way to make known to the nations! Check out the countries that visit your site! I came across this verse and it gave me the encouragement to keep writing! Also, I always pray that each devotion will reach the exact person who needs to hear it that day. So, I encourage you to keep writing, both of you! Have a beautiful, beautiful week! Christie at Three Pixie Lane

    Reply

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Yesterday on the way home from school I had the ra Yesterday on the way home from school I had the radio tuned to my daughter's favorite station and a song that was playing had a line in it that really stood out to me. It made reference to a 'season of the sticks' which I think its safe to say must mean winter. I thought that was such an accurate, albeiet kind of depressing, picture of this time of the year.

While we definitely have more than our fair share of evergreen trees here in Oregon, we also have plenty of trees and bushes that are reduced to sticks during the cold months. But, this morning as I looked out my kitchen window, greedily sipping from my mug of coffee, I marveled at the beauty of the winter sunrise. The sky was all pinks and oranges with frost on the rooftops and a little bit of fog. And, I realized that part of why it was so amazing is because I could see it more clearly through the sticks. The bare branches allowed me a view that I wouldn't be able to see if those same branches were covered in leaves. Being stripped down to almost nothing revealed something magnificent.

We have seasons of the sticks in our lives too, don't we? Times when we feel as though we've been stripped bare and left exposed. It's easy to think that this is a place where all is ugly and dark. And yet, just like the winter sunrise was more visible because of the bare branches, the vulnerability we feel in the winter season of our souls allows us to get a glimpse of beauty that we wouldn't see otherwise. In the lush, warm seasons it's so easy to become comfortable. But in the bare, cold seasons we recognize just how much we need to rely on the One who placed the stars in the heavens and is sovereign over all.

If you feel like your soul has been stripped bare and you've been left exposed and vulnerable, may I encourage you today to ask the Lord to help you to see the beauty in this 'season of the sticks'.

“Answer me quickly, O Lord! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit. Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul." Psalm 143:7
I just went to make my mid-morning protein shake a I just went to make my mid-morning protein shake and grabbed a banana out of the freezer and was about to put it into my shake before I realized it was a frozen egg roll. Sooooo that's how my day is going so far! 🤪How about you?

It's honestly fairly representative of my state of mind these days as I can't seem to make the date on the calendar match the date in my spirit because it feels like it should be January 45th. Every year this month drags on and every year it seems to surprise me for some reason. In addition, my heart just feels heavy as I witness a lot of darkness and sadness around me. So, I'm choosing to control what I can control by making my house feel as cozy as possible, relishing the sunshine whenever it dares to peek through the clouds, gathering inspiration for warmer weather projects and, most importantly, resting in the comfort of the sovereignty of my Father.

“God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’ So that everyone he has made may know his work..." Job 37:5-7
What if you could do something at the beginning of What if you could do something at the beginning of your day that would be a gift to yourself later on? That’s what we’re talking about on this week’s Tip Tuesday! #tiptuesday
The sun decided to make another appearance today! The sun decided to make another appearance today! It’s been such a lovely Sunday. Chocolate croissants for breakfast followed by church then naps/football/reading/etc and soon we’ll be heading out to dinner with friends. These are my favorite kind of weekends. Hope yours has been lovely too! 🌿
Yesterday was stormy and cold but today the sunshi Yesterday was stormy and cold but today the sunshine is breaking through the fog and my house just seems happier. We definitely needed to see that light streaming in through the windows and it’s a gift I don’t take for granted.

And yes, there are still twinkle lights on my mantle because those help when the sunshine goes away again. ✨
Happy weekend! The rainy and gloomy weather here i Happy weekend! The rainy and gloomy weather here in the Willamette Valley has me feeling less frustrated about my migraine forcing me to just snuggle up indoors and these flowers in my kitchen are lifting my spirits. What are you up to on this holiday weekend?
It’s time for TIP TUESDAY! This week, I’m offe It’s time for TIP TUESDAY! This week, I’m offering a gentle reminder from my own parenting experience after feeling my heart pricked with conviction about what was waiting for my daughter every day after school. I hope it will encourage you! 🌿#tiptuesday
The day after Christmas I found myself laundering The day after Christmas I found myself laundering and folding all of the linens we used the previous night as we hosted my husband's side of the family for dinner and other festivities. As I laid out each cloth napkin and folded them one by one, I couldn't help but be struck by what a simple, yet meaningful, task it was. It's such an honor and privilege to be the hostess and, at this stage of my life, I realize that this has almost one hundred percent become my role now. Our parents are in their 70's and have either downsized significantly or simply don't have the energy to take on hosting duties for a large group. I could resent this. I could feel overwhelmed by it. But, instead, I'm choosing to embrace it knowing that, someday, I too will pass the hosting torch and I hope that I will be welcomed with love and attentiveness. So, I fold the linen napkins, taking pleasure in the way all of the creases line up and how neat and tidy they look in the drawer of my dining room buffet. These seemingly simple chores are part of the lifeblood of homemaking and my attitude towards them can either be one of gratefulness or grumbly-ness (yes, I'm making up words now). 

And I’m choosing gratefulness. 

“This job has been given to me to do. Therefore, it is a gift. Therefore, it is a privilege. Therefore, it is an offering I may make to God. Therefore, it is to be done gladly, if it is done for Him. Here, not somewhere else, I may learn God’s way. In this job, not in some other, God looks for faithfulness.” (Elisabeth Elliot⁣)
Welcome to Tip Tuesday! I’m so excited to be kic Welcome to Tip Tuesday! I’m so excited to be kicking off the year with a brand new series! Each weekly installment will feature a tip for everything from your home to faith to parenting to family life and so much more. My goal for 2023 is to have far more personal interaction with this community while continuing on with the mission of weaving together all things heart and home. I hope you enjoy this first tip and I’d love to hear from you about whether or not you decorate for winter! 
#tiptuesday #organizing #winterdecorating
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. H “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” 

Here’s to beginnings. Happy new year friends! May you experience the majesty and sovereignty of the Lord in 2023 like never before! ✨
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