I’ve seen this print numerous times on Pinterest. It generally gives me little chuckle as I recall previous employers, clients, etc. who weren’t timely in preparing for their needs, which in turn meant they expected me to hand them the world, wrapped up pretty-like, in an undoable amount of time.
Anyone relate? It’s easy to see this in light of others lack of planning.
But what about when it points to me? Ouch!
God has laid these exact words on my heart lately in a very real and painful way.
When I’m rushing around the kitchen in the morning yelling asking my girls to get ready, get their book bags, their water bottles, brush their hair, brush teeth, shoes on. socks. jackets! Oh! and you need a bag lunch today? Oy!
God gently whispers these words, “Your lack of planning doesn’t make it an emergency on their part.”
“But God, I needed that extra 2 minutes on twitter, and I just had to check facebook to see what Sally Jo cooked for dinner last night, and what if I quickly answer 2 more emails? Then I’ll get in the shower.” And sure enough, guess where that finds me? Yelling at my children for something that isn’t their fault.
If I had planned my time right and focused on what’s important {and social media it ain’t}, I’d be leading the girls, and in turn teaching them, to start their days in a peaceful and organized manner.
I get that it doesn’t always work out peaceful and organized. Things happen that can’t be planned {like cleaning up pet puke or finding a newborn guinea pig … in my house at least!}. The unexpected happens. Life happens. And sure, there’s a place for social media … in fact, you’ll find me tweeting this post so you can be encouraged by it.
It’s just that God’s telling me to be wiser with my time. On the computer, and in general … so that my stresses, don’t end up being my children’s stresses. My prayer is for them to remember a peaceful and {semi} organized home life that didn’t involve “hurry, hurry, let’s go, we’ve got to go! NOW!” as the motto.
Peace, like charity, begins at home.
~ Franklin D. Roosevelt
So you will go out with joy
and be led out in peace.
Isaiah 55:12a {NCV}
Those are much better words {and feelings} to teach my girls, don’t you think?
7 Comments
I am the queen of “fly by the seat of my pants”. So this really hits close to home. I know taking a few minutes to plan would make all the difference in the world. Even planning in extra time for “emergencies” which in a house of girls always seems to happen – would be golden.
Wise words from a wise mama! Thanks friend.
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Well now, Tracie, you sure know how to hit me between the eyes. Ouch! But you are so right, and your post is such a good reminder that I need to be more careful with my time–my girls are watching! Thanks!
This probably won’t come as any big shock to you but this has been one of my favorite sayings for the past 10 years. I saw it somewhere while working and LOVED it…especially since it always seemed that my bosses didn’t plan & I (all of a sudden) had an “emergency” on my hands. What I’ve never done…until now…is look at it the other way around. Wow. Powerful words, my friend, words that have caused me to really pause and think about how my “need” for social media/email/computer time has impacted Lee in a way that isn’t positive. He has never pointed this out to me yet any time he throws something at me last minute (um…hon…I need something for a potluck tomorrow, for example) I tend to make sure he realizes what’s he’s done. Thank you for helping me see that I’m doing/have done the same to him time after time. I love how you always get me to see things from a new perspective. Love you!
Sage words, my friend. Yeah, I’ve never turned that saying around on myself . . . but I definitely should. Because I’m uber-guilty of doing exactly that! (I could also have borrowed Cyndi’s words, verbatim. We’ll except for “Lee”. But you know what I mean . . .)
Thanks for giving me something to focus on, especially as I navigate through the busiest week of the year! Finding that center will be good! Love you!
It’s not only your heart this has been laid on. I’m so stressed at the moment and really need to step up in getting myself and my children organised. You would think with an autistic child in my home I would have learned but again I needed this wonderful reminder. Thank you honey for sharing your heart xxx
Okay…I have to go prop my feet up now cause that just stepped all over my toes. This is a lesson that my paitent and persistant LORD keeps teaching me. And with each lesson, I catch on a little better.
Yep… this is me. Run, run, run… never stop to enjoy anything ~ but I’m always over committed, especially this time of the year. I’ve had something going on every night this week. When my daughter wanted to stop by the local park that had a mile-long display of holiday lights last night, it was not on my To Do list or in my budget ($15). I had every intention of saying “no, it’s a waste of money and I have to get home, I have a million of things to do…” Instead, I turned in, paid the money, and relaxed and enjoyed the show. It was the best 15 minutes and $15 of the week. Was it the best light show I’ve ever seen, probably not. But it taught my daughter that it’s OK to just slow down, the to do list will get done and, heck “mom’s a little spontaneous”., RIGHT?
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