Every year leading up to my daughter Emily’s birthday, I start to crumble. And every year I forget that I do this. A little over a week ago, I was to the point that I had to walk away from everything here and dig my way back out.
Rather than staying home while my husband and son went mountain climbing, our entire family jumped in the van and headed to the mountains. On my way out the door, I scheduled the link up, and left all my electronics behind.
I adore my readers. I love the interaction that takes place here on Raising Arrows. I update my Facebook status and other social media accounts for my readers’ benefit. I recently upgraded my email service for my readers’ benefit. I strive to offer a blog that serves the Lord and serves people. But, sometimes I need to do a disappearing act.
I needed to quiet my heart and humble myself before the Lord. I needed to just sit with my emotions, feel them, and move forward. I needed to stop talking and start listening. No more getting lost in my day.
You can’t hide amidst the noise of your day when your normal day is hundreds of miles away.
Today, I am reappearing! There is so much I want to share with you about where the Lord is leading me! I promise to speak slowly and try very hard not to add to the noise of YOUR outside life.
And if ever YOU need to do a disappearing act, do it! Shut off the outside world and start listening to the Lord. Put your normal routine on hold and be still for a change. Empty yourself before the Lord and be filled!
Cristi says
Thank you for the reassurance that it’s okay to step away from the computer for a while. I’ve been dreading my scheduled “disappearance” for a while, but I’m now looking forward to hearing God while I spend time with my family (and with no internet connection available).
Amy says
It was almost better for me to not schedule it and just leave. That way I didn’t really have time to think about the fact that when I got back I would have a lot of catching up to do. The catching up wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it would be (praise the Lord!). Enjoy your time!
Sarah says
Oh my, how badly I need this today! We just returned from vacation and AFTER we got back I just about lost it 🙁 So many things have crept into my life. Good things…but maybe not the BEST things that God wants for me. I am in the process of stripping activities out of my life one by one in the hopes of getting a better grip on what I DO and doing it to the best of my abilities for the glory of the Lord. Thank you 🙂
Amy says
You are welcome, Sarah! I really just want to do what God has for me to do and not a bunch of extra stuff.
Jillian says
Glad to have you back! 🙂 Looking forward to hearing what you have to say. Just one question, do we need to re-subscribe? I haven’t gotten the last two posts.
Amy says
No, I had a glitch in the system when I moved and it didn’t send, and since I was gone, I didn’t know. Fixed now. 🙂
Alaina Frederick says
I think every mom needs to take time for herself. To allow herself to go deep into her thoughts and have some time of grieving. We often are so “on” for our husbands, family, and now our readers that it’s rare to just do what our heart needs to do.
Sometimes we need a good solid cry and to be alone with our thoughts it’s in these moments that I personally feel the closest to God. That I can feel him wrap his arms around me and remind me that even during my darkest hours I’m not alone.
I’m glad that you were able to take time for just you and your family. No worries about checking email. Obligations per-written and scheduled without you having to be there. It’s in these moments that we are able to be and feel the closest to our family. To quench our thirst with their smiles, their sweet voices, and their sense of only care in the world is to have fun.
Thanks for the reminder today to take some time away from it all in order to truly appreciate it all!
Elizabeth says
Praying for you during this difficult time. May the memories be comforting and God give you strength. Thank you for sharing your heart.
Kristina Best says
Thank you for sharing this. Sometimes I let the outside noise add to the inside noise and I get so over whelmed. I have to remember that I can step away.
Mrs H says
i was praying for you over the 4th as i was tucking my little two month old girl into bed. thinking about amy & her emily. how precious life is and to savor each moment. praying for peace and comfort. now i know why. God bless you & this ministry.
Barbie says
Welcome back! Disappearing acts can be good and very beneficial. Praying you have a blessed week.
Michelle says
Amy, how wise you are to step back and “be”. The LORD has so much to share with us during the darker days.
I have a planned step away for the end of this month where I don’t even plan to take my phone (I’ll be with my husband who will have his).
Katena says
I am so sorry for your loss. I totally understand the month of September is hard for me. I have lost as well. We understand and grieve all in our own way. We need some quiet amongst the chaos of our lives.
Heather says
I have taken these and they are such sweet, sweet memories. When left to myself I will just sit in a quiet place and be with the Lord, and I absolutely crave those. I look forward to reading your posts inspired by that 🙂
-Heather
PS – thanks for getting back to me when you were ‘officially off’ – your advice prompted me to start the process of application for some affiliates – thank you!
Michele P says
Praying you were refreshed and that the Lord provided the peace and mercy you needed! Sometimes, ok- lots of time, quiet is what we need most!
brittney says
I needed to read this today, as a fellow blogger I never know when or if ever anything at all ever touches or means anything to anyone out there that reads it, a few days ago someone said that something I wrote had inspired them, it was a nice moment for me to read that espically right now while some hard tough times are in my life, so today, Id like to tell you that your post inspired me, it was a gentle reminder of things that really matter, and that I cant change anything or any outcome but God can and will when he sees best.
Amy says
Thank you, Brittney – it does mean a lot to me. 🙂
rebecca says
Thank you, thank you, thank you for this update. Boy do I need it! I have been having my own person heart aches lately and decided to shut off my heart and mind last week. Not good! Well, last night while praying and searching the scriptures I was prompted to turn to Matthew 18. What a gift scriptures are to us in this loud. crazy time we live…I found comfort and peace in the chapter but still today I feel sad and hurt and finding it difficult to open back up from being shut down….My kids are suffering for it, I can see that. Then I read your post and another miracle from God above….I love how He answers our prayers in multiple ways so we see His hand of mercy. Thank you, I think it is time for me to find some quiet solitude and maybe even a nice get away….Keep posting, you bring the Lord’s message to those you dont even know. I am grateful today for YOU!
Amy says
Rebecca,
Praying for you!
Molly says
You are one wise mama. 😉 Emily was spared much of this worlds turmoil, but she still got to have (as does her siblings) have one of the wisest mama’s there ever was.
Dana says
I did miss your posts, but I’m so glad you were able to get away! I was thinking of you as Emily’s birthday approached. I can’t wait to hear where God is leading you next!
Sharla says
Anniversaries of losses and birthdays are so hard. There is really nothing like it. The world goes on around you while you can think of nothing else but your sweet girl. My prayers are with you…
Julie Powell says
:-). Thank you for sharing this, Amy. I was a drivelling wreck last week. My son was four months, five days on Wednesday. I have a son who died at that age more than 13 years ago. I didn’t expect to be so low. It helps to know I’m not the only one who struggles through these times. And still God meets me in the struggles and graciously brings me through, reminded of His grace.
Amy says
I didn’t expect it this time either. I wonder now if it had a lot to do with my son being close to the age she was when she first got sick. So many memories…precious, but painful. ((HUGS))
Debra says
Such great advice…we get so caught up in the “must be electronically connected at all times” whirlwind we forget to take time for ourselves to be quiet and restful and pensive and open and to listen to that still, small voice. July 25th is the anniversary of a great loss for me (the death of my husband in a car accident) and I will definitely be stepping away from the noise to give myself time to grieve and to pray without unnecessary distractions.