Priorities.
Seems like a common thread running through so many of my thoughts over the past several months. So often I come to the end of the day or week and find myself unsettled about the way my priorities have been stacked those past days. I realize that the bulk of my time had been spent doing things with no eternal value- surfing Facebook, Pinterest, or a favorite forum, researching random things online, you know the drill. These “smart” phones aren’t really so smart for us when its all said and done, are they? Then there’s the things that do have value but become entirely too important. Planning homeschool curriculum, learning how to make new, healthy meals, organizing family photos. Valuable, but in balance.
Anyway, since the new year began, I’ve been working on reassessing my day-to-day life – trying to make my actions line up with my priorities. This is my first blog in a month, and I’ve been mostly quiet on Facebook as well. It’s not been easy, and it’s still a work in progress. But I’m figuring some important things out. We’ve established a good school routine that is working well for everyone so far. I’m trying to nurture my kids more and fight with them less. I’m really enjoying my relationship with my husband again and feel like I have more ability to meet his needs than I used to. I’m keeping up on housework (mostly). And I’m figuring out how to fit “me time” into my life again. I feel good. I feel capable- not perfect- but capable.
And here’s the thing. God has given me this life. He didn’t give me your life or you mine. He knows us inside and out. He knows our strengths and our weaknesses. And He promises that He has given us all we need for the life that He has given to us. But we still have to do our part. We have to be proactive about keeping ourselves in check. We have to foster our relationship with Him so that we are living in the fullness of His Spirit. And we have to keep trying- keep making baby steps, and trust Him to help us up when we fall. Because we will fall. I will fall. I will react again out of anger instead of responding in love. And I will do it again. Because that is the nature of being human.
So I want to encourage you today. I want to challenge you to take a look at your priorities, and then take a look at your life. Do they complement each other? Is there something taking up too much of your life that shouldn’t be? Can you let something go in order to experience more of the life that God has for you- the life you ultimately want?
May the strength of the Lord be with you. This journey we’re on is hard, but eternally rewarding!
~Judy
Recently I have been sleeping in while the kids start their day with Daddy. With many needs during the night with the chicken pox invading, so I really needed some solo sleep. What I love most though, is when one of my boys runs in to find me, curls up with me and we get a few minutes to connect, talk, and laugh. I could begrudge the continued lack of sleep. Instead I find the moment so wonderful. They want to be with me. In the moment that is all that matters, and it sts us up for our day in a littler brighter mood.
Amazing what a difference your perspective makes, isn’t it? I’ve had the same thing happen to me. Those snuggles are priceless if you allow yourself to see them that way. 🙂
Judy- loved this. So so good…we really are on the same boat ….let’s pray for each other. 🙂 I missed u on Facebook but was proud of u at the same time. Balance is hard for me to do. I pray for more moments of refreshments all through out the day, and grace to climb those mountains of bickering, disobidiance ( they so remind me f myself sometimes-) , messes and more messes, and then suddenly u get a hug, a thank u suddenly- today my daughter would not let me brush he hair and suddenly I rembered what works or her- a hug, a nice long hug and for me to sit there and ignore the ticking clok and thank God that we can apologize to them, the other day my 5 year old said ” ima of course I forgive u, I always will.” I probably got mad at her and raised my vice or something ( yelled) . I hope we both learn the secret of constant fellowship with Him all though out the day. Abiding.
God bless u my friend, and hero because of him.
I so enjoy sharing our lives with each other as well! You have been such an encouragement to me. I’ll still be around FB, but not as much. Just can’t believe what a time-sucker it is! Would so much rather invest that time into my family and my relationship with the Lord. Love you, my friend!