When Life Stops You in Your Tracks
There are moments in life that rearrange everything in your heart in a matter of seconds.
This past week, Bobby Joe and I came home after a weekend of business travel. We were tired, trying to settle back in, and ready to be home. Then something happened with Jett that I will never forget.
He had a breath-holding spell. He turned blue and passed out.
In that moment, we did not know what was happening. We were terrified. We truly thought we were seconds away from losing our baby, and the only thing running through our minds was trying to save him.
The Moment Everything Changed
I am not going to share every detail, because some things still feel too raw. I also do not want to make this more dramatic than it needs to be. But I do want to be honest about how it felt.
Bobby Joe handled the situation and got Jett breathing again. I was panicking, asking over and over if I should call 911. Everything felt like it was happening too fast and too slow at the same time.
Bobby Joe had never held an unconscious baby before. I do not think anything can prepare you for that. It hit him incredibly hard, too.
Thankfully, Jett came back around. He recovered. He went back to being his usual happy, sweet little self, like nothing had happened.
But we were not the same.
I have kept replaying it in my mind. The fear. The helplessness. The way everything else disappeared in that moment. No deadlines. No emails. No work thoughts. No business worries. Just our baby, and the desperate prayer in my heart that he would be okay.
I am so thankful he is.
And I am also still processing it.
The Things That Suddenly Felt Smaller
Owning a business comes with a constant list of things that need your attention. At ABJ Chapman Services, there is always something to do. Client work, planning, messages, projects, growth goals, follow-ups, schedules, and all the behind-the-scenes pieces that keep things moving.
I care deeply about our business. Bobby Joe and I work hard because we want to build something strong. We want to provide for our family. We want to serve people well. We want to create a life that reflects our values.
But this week reminded me how quickly life can put everything into perspective.
There are things that matter, and then there are things that only feel urgent until something truly important happens.
That does not mean work does not matter. It does. Responsibility matters. Showing up for people matters. Providing for your family matters.
But sometimes, life stops you in your tracks and reminds you why you are doing all of it in the first place.
We work hard to build a good life, but we have to make sure we are actually present to live it.
Giving Myself Permission to Pause
I am behind this week.
I am behind on work. I am behind on my normal routine. I am even behind on writing this blog.
And normally, that would bother me more than I want to admit.
I would feel the pressure to catch up right away. I would feel like I needed to push through, get back on schedule, and make everything look normal again.
But this week, I am choosing something different.
I am choosing to hold my baby a little closer. I am choosing to sit with what happened instead of rushing past it. I am choosing to let my nervous system catch up. I am choosing family time, prayer, and quiet moments over pretending I am fine.
That is hard for me.
As a business owner, it can feel like pausing means falling behind. As a mom, it can feel like everyone needs something all at once. As a wife, I want to be strong for Bobby Joe, too, especially knowing how deeply this affected him.
But I keep feeling God gently remind me that I do not have to carry everything at once.
Some weeks are for producing. Some weeks are for planning. Some weeks are for growing.
And some weeks are for being still, being grateful, and remembering what really matters.
The Business Lesson I Am Taking With Me
I do not have a polished lesson this week. I do not have a big business strategy or a neat takeaway tied up with a bow.
What I do have is a reminder I needed.
Remember why you are working so hard.
If the goal is to create a better life for your family, make sure your family is not only getting the leftovers of you.
If the goal is more freedom, make sure you are not building a life where you never feel free enough to stop.
If the goal is to serve others well, make sure you are also caring for the people God placed right in front of you.
That includes your children. Your spouse. Your home. Your own heart.
I believe in hard work. I believe in being dependable. I believe in honoring commitments. But I also believe we are allowed to pause when life shakes us awake.
Sometimes the most responsible thing we can do is step back for a moment, breathe, pray, and be present.
Looking Ahead
This blog is shorter than usual, and that is intentional.
This week, I need a little more time with my family. I need to watch Jett laugh and play. I need to look at Bobby Joe and be grateful for the way he showed up in one of the scariest moments of our lives. I need to thank God again and again that our baby is okay.
The work will still be there.
The list will still be there.
The goals will still be there.
And I will get back to them.
But right now, I am choosing to slow down and appreciate the ordinary moments I sometimes take for granted. The little sounds in the house. The toys on the floor. The bedtime snuggles. The normal chaos that, honestly, feels like a gift right now.
If this week has taught me anything, it is that life can change in a second. So I want to be more present for the life I have been praying for.
Work can wait, but time with the people we love is precious.
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