This week has been a flurry of chaos and running around like a chicken with my head cut off. My new year’s “revolution” and intention is to be intentional – so that includes planning things out in advance – our lessons, our activities, our date nights and our all around schedule. In doing so, I have become a stress machine. Seeing it all coming together on the calendar has left me wondering “How on earth are we going to do it all?!?”. It makes me want to run and hide.
There are so many great things to be a part of – bible studies, book studies, blogs and websites, small groups, church events, fellowship with friends, co-op, Awana, swimming lessons, skiing…..my head is spinning, and I’m only just touching the tip of the iceberg!
I never thought we would be one of those families who was running around from one thing to the next to the next. In fact, I’ve been pretty determined that we would NOT be one of THOSE families. I could say no.
And yet, I find us in this place of bending and starting to break under all the pressure. None of the things we are doing are bad. That’s the problem. They’re all good! But are they all great?
Any time I think about our schedule, I get stressed out. Then I start thinking about what things we could let go of, and I feel peace. Then I start thinking about the families who have more kids than we do and are busier than we are, and I start feeling guilty. But then I think about how we’re different than they are, and not them, and I feel ok again. And then I think about how they would be doing more than us and we should do more too, and I start feeling guilty again.
Does this sound at all familiar? Please tell me I’m not alone in this! I feel like I’m running at break neck speed just moments away from spinning out of control!
Thankfully, after pouring this out to my hubby (who wisely told me to stop comparing us to other people!), and spending some time crying out to God over the last little while, I have arrived at the conclusion that we CAN’T do it all. We shouldn’t, shan’t, and won’t. Some things have to go. It will perhaps be painful, but it if OUR FAMILY is to grow, to have time to do the things God wants us to do with excellence, we need to pare it down.
It may not be forever. It may be just for a time, until our kids are older, or we’re older, whatever. But for now, it is the right thing to do. Something’s gotta give, and it isn’t going to be my brain, soul or heart.
Can you relate? Do you feel like you’re too busy and there are things you need to give up? Are you convicted of being too busy but feel guilty when comparing yourself to others? No two individuals or families are alike! Stop comparing yourself to others! Seek the Lord, ask for his wisdom in what to pursue, and he will reveal it to you!
I keep coming back to these verses in Jeremiah lately. Chapter 29, verses 11 -13:
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
YES AND AMEN!
