Fine Lines—Just Walk ‘Em

By Lori Freeland –

This week I found myself thinking a lot about fine lines. While walking a fine line is a tired cliché, the words paint a clear picture that fits with my current mindset. Imagine a child following a thin shadow line down the sidewalk step by careful step, a little wobbly, yet just making that next move forward one small shoe at a time.

Here are a few of my fine lines. Can you relate?

Trust myself. Yes, I need advice. On many topics. Being a kind wife and a focused mother, keeping strong finances, crafting an engaging story, and editing and tightening my articles. Other people ahead in the journey offer wisdom I haven’t gained and skills I haven’t mastered. But I need to listen with my ears open and decide with my heart closed. I can seek out opinions and that’s what I’m going to get—opinions. There may be a small percentage of truth in even the worst advice and I try to find it. But then I need to come back home, close the door, and sift through the information alone. In my heart, I will find what’s right for me.

Love my work. For me it’s my writing. If I’m not madly in love with my story, why should anyone else be? But I can’t love it so much I close my ears to solid advice. That’s a fine line if I ever saw one! Love it, but let it go. Still working that one out!

Release my children. No, not into the wild, but my natural inclination to yell “duck and cover,” throw my body over my kids, and protect them from the world may not be the best plan to grow them into the people I want them to be. The statement, “This hurts me more than it hurts you,” finally makes sense now that I’m striding in my mother’s slippers. When my kids hurt, I ache. I’d do anything for my little and not so little people. But that may damage them the most. Failure is the first step to success. And to endurance. Real life requires both.

Set myself apart. As a Christian, I am to be different. Set apart. A light in the dark. But if I lock myself in a brightly lit room, how will I know if my light is on? I need to step into the dark and check my batteries. I also need to remember the point of my light isn’t to clear the room; it’s to provide a safe warm place for people to come together and support each other. I need to remember, “But the greatest of these is LOVE” (I Cor. 13:13 NIV emphasis mine). But means stop and go the other direction. I can sit and judge others all day. I’m not winning anyone to Christ that way. Relationship over ranting. I can do that one!

What fine lines are you walking today? Leave a comment and share!