When Life Happens

The laundry piles (clean and dirty) are beginning to take over, and it is becoming a challenge to find something presentable to wear.  The dishes are threatening a mutiny in the kitchen!  And, there really isn’t room to walk in the play room, or Hannah’s bedroom (do so at your own risk!) – with all of the toys, books, crayons, beads, and tiny doll shoes scattered over every inch of the no-longer-visible carpet! 

.

But, I know how to prevent this!  I’ve done it before.  So, what happened?!  I thought life was supposed to slow down after the holidays.  I thought I would get things back on track when life returned to “normal” (whatever that is).  But, it is the beginning of February.  And, I am still waiting for life to slow down, but, it keeps “happening.”  (Which almost always means that the housekeeping does not.)  So, I’m beginning to think that maybe it isn’t “life” that is too busy…Maybe it is me!?

.

Maybe part of the problem is just the natural aftermath of holiday company, new Christmas gifts in need of homes (and older toys needing to be rotated out of circulation for a little while), and the process of transforming a “baby” room into a “big girl” room.  And, there were the Christmas parties and extra services, followed by getting the regular ministries up and running again after the start of the year.  Then, I managed to hurt my wrist falling down the stairs. (Yes, I’m a klutz.) Hannah had a rash and pinkeye. And, I came down with a hideous cold.  Yes, life happens.

.

You know, I could probably get away with blaming just one of those factors for the state of my home right now. 

 .

But, I can’t.  Because, life does happen.  And, when I honestly evaluate the situation, I know that this did not happen overnight, or even as a direct result of any of those events.  It happened slowly…  Until I find myself overwhelmed by the chaos and clutter consuming my home, and the mere thought of conquering it seems almost impossible.

 .

Sound familiar?

 .

As a wife and mom, I am called to be a keeper at home.  But, that is difficult to accomplish when I am rarely at home.  Or, maybe I am at home, but my time is otherwise occupied.  Either way, when the dirt, clutter, and chaos takes over, it is a good indication that I am not doing my job…or, at the very least, I am not doing it well. 

 .

But, my calendar is full…of good things!   And, it seems like I am busy all day long.   But, busyness does not mean that I am using my time wisely.  Even good things can take up time that should be invested elsewhere.  (And, although there are aspects of Twitter and Facebook that I enjoy, I am convinced that these two forums have an ability to eat up time like nothing else, except maybe television…)

 .

So many things are clamoring for our time and attention these days – from the legitimate, necessary, and eternally valuable, to the frivolous, trivial, and, in some instances, downright irresponsible.  And, we need to make sure that we are using our time and energy wisely – and investing it in the right people, and the right place. 

 .

I am not really a New Year’s Resolutions kind of girl, but the beginning of this year marked our first year here – in our new home, new church, and new town!  So, it was a good time to step back and assess how and where I am investing my time, and how (or if) that reflects my biblical priorities. 

 .

And, do you know what I realized?  I realized that life is not going to slow down if I keep adding more things to our already-overflowing week.  And, it is okay to say no.  Yes, even to good things, like “ministry” opportunities.  Because, in this season and stage of life, my most important ministry is my family and my home.  I am a wife and mom to my husband and my daughter first.  I am a “pastor’s wife” second. 

 .

Because I believe that God has called me to be a wife and mother, the primary focus of my time and energy should be within the realm of my home: my husband, our daughter, and our house.  And, that gives me plenty to do each day.  So, I must be a wise manager of my time, resources, and energy.  And, being a wise manager includes knowing when, and what, to say yes to, and when it is better to say no. 

 .

For the past few weeks, I have been prayerfully revising our daily and weekly schedule.  And, in the process, I have said no to some great opportunities…in order to concentrate on some even better ones.

.

“…and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.” ~Titus 2:4-5

.

———

.

What about you?  What does your day, or week, look like?  Do your activities accurately reflect the role(s) and priorities that God has called you to fulfill?