All That Glitters

Join me in welcoming one of our newest contributors, Holly Mackle, to The Better Mom! Today she is sharing some encouragement as you plan out your time for the year ahead. - XO, Ruth

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My new planner is gold.

No, I don’t think you understand.

Were Beyoncé to see it, she would elbow at least two members of Destiny’s Child out of the way to get there first.

When I’m worried I have a lil’ spinach in my teeth, I use it to check my reflection.

When I showed my friend Wren she asked if I’d robbed Solomon’s temple.

My eldest pretends to take her selfie in it.

I COULD GO ALL DAY.

It’s fancy, y’all. And I’ve felt no small amount of shame every time I’ve had to pull it out in a public space in the few short days making up the year of our Lord two thousand and nineteen. I’ve felt embarrassed because I’m the kind of gal who can’t wear dangle earrings without feeling like everyone is looking at me all, “And just who does she think she is!?” I’ve felt embarrassed because I want to over-explain to the woman at the dry cleaner window, “You see, I bought it because it’s the correct size for my purse, not for the color. It’s the size, you get that, right?” But really I’m embarrassed because it’s the ugly of my heart on loud display for all to see.

I should probably explain.

My gold lamé planner is not so subtle about keeping my heart’s number one idol under wraps. In previous years my planner has been a respectable, sensible, reliable color—mostly black or navy—certainly not Shekinah glory gold. And I’m not real comfortable with how this literal golden planner puts my metaphorical planning heart on display in ways I prefer to ignore when I remember Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21 ESV). This shiny little thing draws quite a bit of attention to just how much I adore a sense of control.

As I may have mentioned a time or twelve, my planner is treasure-colored all right. And since God doesn’t have a history of being altogether subtle with me, the fact that “Jersey Shore Shimmer” was the only remaining this-sized calendar color available for purchase is probably some kind of a message, and not the whispering kind. It’s the kind that’s going to shout at me every time I pull it out of my purse, and oh, what a kindness.

Just like all the previous years, my calendar is going to beckon me to bow down to it, but this year it looks a whole lot more like a golden calf. Good thing the God of the Bible is kinda jealous, and that is kinda awesome. Because in His kindness He won’t stand back and allow my heart to bow to anything inferior to the perfection of His plan—His Lordship.

So this year, I’ll do my best to pull out my new planner with confidence, make some passing joke to onlookers about how we’ve converted all our investments to gold bars, and then be sure to write down my plans for the week…in pencil.

Blessings,

Holly Mackle