Lately, life has become a series of to-do lists. My life has consisted of waking and then making a mad dash through my day to accomplish my list of things to do. When I do (which is seldom), I feel good about myself. I'm a good Teacher if I get school started on time and get through all my subjects. I'm a good Mom if I teach my kids how to work hard and tell the truth. I'm a good wife if I have the house clean, the clothes ironed and a nice supper on the table when Leland walks in the door.
For instance, my list for today was:
Start school on time (ok, lets move to the next one)
Finish all Breck's school work
Dust the entire house
Make a nice supper
Make it to Bible Study (preferably on time)
(I know. Not a big list. But I have three little children, so give me a break here.)
But when those things don't happen, well... I have this bullwhip that I keep in my closet. When the ironing doesn't get done...SLAP! Supper didn't turn out well...SLAP! I started school late...SLAP! I didn't make that pumpkin pie my kids were begging me to make because I had too many other things to do...SLAP! SLAP! I didn't write an e-mail to my dear Grandma...SLAP! SLAP! SLAP!
After a while I feel bruised, frustrated, impatient, unloving, and........ Yeah. You get the picture. Not at all a pleasant person to be around.
Its at a time like this that God has a way of making his point very clearly.
I was having my devotions this morning when God suddenly spoke to me and said, "You are focusing on the WRONG THING!!! Your focus should not be how much you can accomplish today; rushing through your to-do list. Your focus should be serving Me with joy!"
Why is it that we always want to focus on DOING rather than BEING?! God's ultimate goal is not for me to just read my Bible every day and go to church on Sunday and Bible study on Wednesday night. Those things are good... don't get me wrong. But what He really wants is re.la.tion.ship. My husband doesn't need a perfect wife...he needs relationship! My kids don't want a perfect Mom...they want relationship!
WOW!!
How liberating!
I don't have to be perfect! I can put away my bullwhip!
If I focus on relationships and serving God, I can still have joy when there are piles of laundry that need done.
Who knew?
So today I choose joy. And I hope my husband has something clean to wear to work tomorrow.
9 comments:
What a good reminder. You are a blessing!
Jody Herring
What an excellent post! Felt like I read it straight from a devotional book. I think as women we tend to do this to ourselves and lose our focus, all for good reasons. Keep encouraged!
AMEN! Very well written!:)
SOoo true!! Thanks for the reminder!
GREAT post Rowana...and I'm getting all teary eyed. You are so not alone with these feelings!!Thanks for the reminder to all of us.
Talk about a wonderful revelation! Being the good at the correct priorities is best. Make sense?!
Great post! I often wonder why we, as moms, feel our self-worth is dependent on what we DO and how much of it we're DOING.
Beautifully done, Rowana! Hmmm. . .glad to hear I am not the only one with a whip. :-) I have been learning the same lesson as well. The fact that you care and are trying proves that you are a wonderful woman! Blessings.
well bless your heart! I just started this blogging buisness, but I will be visiting you often!
Liz
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