Dancing Through Life: Establishing Rhythms in Every Season

Equipping

Aug 24

Written By Andrea Portilla

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I have learned that life comes in seasons and every season has different Rhythms.

“To live from a place of rest is to abide in grace and move through each block like a dance.”

The Lord recently taught me to look at this season and find the rhythms that are a part of my now. I have a tween and teenagers who need me still, a husband in the depths of his career, 19 years of marriage to celebrate, homeschooling, a home I want everyone to want to come home to and of course, my own callings and passions to pursue.

If I were to make a list of all the things to do, I would be overwhelmed before even beginning. But the Lord whispers, “Let’s dance, follow my lead, I’ll help you find your rhythm.” To live from a place of rest is to abide in grace and move through each block like a dance.

If every year has 4 seasons, what if I divided my time by 4 beats. 4 daily blocks of time devoted to each step of this dance of life. For me, the beats include:

Home, Children, Work, Family

These are the main heartbeats of this season of life. My main priorities of my day have to fall into one of those categories. I divide my day by blocks of hours. In this season, I give 3 hours to keeping my home, 4 hours to schooling my children and 3 hours to working, with the remaining hours to family.

Some days schooling takes less time, for example, Fridays we usually just finish up whatever didn’t get done and so, I can spend more time working or playing. In previous seasons schooling took most of the day so that block would have been a 6-hour block and whatever project I was working on sometimes could blend into the day or would simply have a smaller space to fill.

If you work full time, your rhythms may look somewhat different. You may have to wake up a little early to have enough time to care for your home block and your children and family block may be shorter. Ask the Lord to reveal what is possible for you.

I have created a worksheet to help you establish your own Rhythms.

As always, we take these ideas and adapt them to be our own, sprinkling so much grace.

FREE 4 Step workbook to ESTABLISHING RHYTHMS in Your Daily Life

If you misstep, that’s ok, just be sure to follow and take another step and remember, sometimes it’s a slow dance and sometimes it’s a quick step! The mundane chores of housecleaning can be methodical and slow (though I find playing some fast, fun music always tends to make the chores go by faster!), move through them with grace and then move to the next thing.

When thinking about your 4 beats, write what you desire for that beat and what is dependent on you for that beat.

You are not making an exhausting exhaustive list, instead make a list or write what your heart desires and/or what needs to be done for the things to fall into place.

My Home Beat

My home beat revolves around my desire to keep my home as a haven. That includes keeping it clean and smelling nice, with a table set and meals planned. I also add laundry and emails/communication in this Rhythm, because much of that is dependent on me though it is delegated some to the children. My day begins with lighting a candle, google playing worship (I like starting with Elevation’s Jireh), and getting everyone prepared for the day. I clean the kitchen, prep meals in the morning and make sure I take out whatever needs to defrost. Then I spend time answering emails about home, kids, or communicating with my husband. All of this may not happen on the daily but following this Rhythm most days helps on the days when things are off beat.

My Children Beat

This beat includes anything that has to do with kids, including homeschooling and discipleship. Any and all appointments I try to make during these hours (best case scenario!). These are hours meant to be used to teach, disciple, and play. I try to stay off my phone during these hours. I have learned to treat Homeschooling like a job, so I avoid any calls unless from my husband and I try and return texts or emails during my work time. Our homeschooling has evolved some. 2 of my kids are mostly independent, so my time is spent with my younger one. When she is working on her stuff without me, I use this time to lesson plan for our co-op. If I’m lucky or need extra time on my work beat, I blend it some.

My Work Beat

My work beat includes a few hours where I work on my own personal projects. These are the hours where I plan, write, execute and teach. Writing books and devotionals and articles is my other job. A passion project of sorts that gives away Jesus and sometimes makes some money. In seasons past, when homeschooling took much of my time, this took a backseat. My calling was and always will be discipling my children first. There have been seasons of quiet and waiting. It was a slow dance. Today, the dance is picking up some!

My Family Beat

“My calling was and always will be discipling my children first. There have been seasons of quiet and waiting. It was a slow dance. Today, the dance is picking up some! ”

Finally, my family beat includes hours to be together as a family; to serve my family and husband. During these hours we make and serve meals, I do a quick pick up to clear everything from the day, I clear our bedroom. We rest. I spend time with my husband during these hours. We take a walk or sit in the hot tub (a great investment for all marriages!), we watch TV with the kids. This beat is slow and full of rest at the end of the day.

These Rhythms become a dance for me. If I can move gracefully about these daily Rhythms, our season can move with peace. Whatever else comes into our lives, I can give over to Jesus and he can show me how to navigate the steps.

Every Season has it’s Rhythms, ask the Lord to show you the beat to the dance. Come to Him now and let him take your hand and lead you. Follow his steps.

Click here to download the Worksheet that will help you create your own Rhythms and beats.