Sometimes, I think I like to-do lists TOO much. Every day for as long as I can remember, I have written down my goals for the day anywhere I can. I have a planner, a wall calendar, too many notebooks to count, and sticky notes all over the place. Each day (or sometimes the night before) I write down my to-dos in categories: home and work. For years that “work” was school, and now it’s my company, Pillar & Pearl. “Home” used to mean my tiny college apartment, and now it means my Virginia farmhouse where I live with my husband and three children. But, those aren’t the only differences to my list.
I used to let the list define me. I’d let it take over my day and be the deciding factor of the day being good or bad. If most things were crossed off at the end of the day, it was good. If few things (or God forbid, NOTHING) were crossed off, it was bad. That’s not how I live anymore, and it’s due, in large part, to the idea of doing “small things with great love.”
It didn’t happen overnight. For a long time, as a newlywed and a new mom, I was so frustrated by the change in productivity. I felt so stuck and felt like I wasn’t accomplishing any of the things I had hoped to get done. It took months of deep breaths, increased prayers, help from my family, and inspiration from others for me to shift my focus.
Now, I still make a list every day. But, I add the small things; and, when I look back at my list at the end of the day, I see the glory in even the little things I accomplished with care, like putting my daughter’s hair in braids, answering Instagram messages from someone who connects with my brand, or having smoothies with my littles.
Sure, there are still days when I worry that I didn’t get enough done, in terms of chores or business work or time spent with my family. But, I try to remember that if I can take each small moment of the wonderful life I’ve been given and offer it to our Lord, that He will return that dedication with mercy and love. I strive to keep in mind that small things done with great love are the stepping stones to Heaven. And, with every check mark on my list, I’ve accomplished something for His greater glory.
– Written by Emily Tate; wife, mother, & owner of Pillar & Pearl. Connect with Emily on Instagram @pillarandpearl.
