Balance — a word so many of us work tirelessly to achieve. This one single word demands all our strength as we attempt to navigate the pressures of having a career, raising our children, supporting our spouse and having a social life on top of our countless other day-to-day responsibilities. We can constantly feel like we are being pulled in 500 different directions, and just as we feel like we have it under control, we realize we do not! Rather than being in “balance,” I believe that there are “seasons” we are required to give more to one area of our life than another.
My husband Riley and I have walked through countless seasons of life together. We both grew up in Southlake and met in the sixth grade at Eubanks Intermediate School. However, this idea of viewing life in “seasons” verses “balance” did not become real for me until God brought our story full circle in March of 2018. My second son Landry was born on March 8th, and Riley was named the head football coach at Carroll Senior High School two weeks later! In addition to the typical stress of having a new baby, Riley dove right into his new role as head coach at our alma mater. In the midst of the blessing and excitement, I no longer felt like I had it all together. My mind would race as I would contemplate how I was going to tackle the day’s tasks before me. I wanted to win in every area of my life and instead, I felt like I was failing because I couldn’t give 100 percent to everything and everyone 100 percent of the time.
One morning, as I was reflecting on all God was doing in my heart, the verse Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God,” was repeating over and over in my mind as if God himself was whispering in my ear. At that moment, God changed my perspective on “balance” and the unrealistic expectation of the word. He showed me that there was grace.
There will be days that I need to spend a few more hours in the office; there will be days that I need to be at home with my boys; there will be football seasons that require sacrifice. And that is OK. The joy that comes from all those things is so much greater than any stress or worry. So, focus on your season of life because the focus on balance is futile.
Going through all of life’s seasons in community is the game-changer. It truly takes a village, and I am so thankful for ours! We are so excited to be back home and for our children to experience the same tradition, support and love that this town has given us.
Alexis Dodge is a certified public accountant for Sisk Capital and Owner of Dodge Accounting Solutions, which provides accounting services for small businesses. She and her husband Riley have two sons, Tate and Landry.