Being flexible
Gracie and her friend Evynn demonstrate their flexibility
So here we are. Another school year and this year promises to be busier than ever. Rachel and Ben are both in high school, Caleb is at a Christian School about 25 minutes away, and Jared and Gracie are down the road at the local public school. However, Jared is in the French Immersion program for the first time so it's almost like a whole new school for him too. So with the kids in 3 different schools and the various activities that go with each, I am just going to have to be flexible! Our whole family is.
I am praying that I will be intentional in taking advantage of the busyness to teach patience, flexibility, respect for one another and the responsibility and privilege of doing all to the glory of God – even if that means doing homework in the dental office (like Rachel had to today) or extra long rides in the car. The problem is that in order to teach these things, I need to model them myself. That could be a problem, specifically if I let myself get over-tired or if I don't get my time with the Lord in before the day really begins.
I was impressed with the account in Mark about when the Lord heard about his friend and cousin John – that he had been killed.His cousin who leaped in his mother's womb when pregnant Mary came near. His cousin who baptized him. Jesus started off to be alone and pray but the crowds came to Him, He had compassion on them and He spent all day healing and teaching them. Later on He finally got His time alone to talk to His Father. I am sure as a human being He had emotions about His cousin dying and as God Himself, He would be so grieved about the sin involved. Yet, when the busyness came, He was gracious and long-suffering and compassionate, not thinking about Himself and His feelings.
My busyness is nothing like what the Lord encountered as the crowds pressed in. It will take the Lord's strength through me in order to be selfless and sacrificial as He was (and still is). None of us can run on our own strength for too long (and not too well) – we need to fill up our spiritual tanks in order to endure life's journey. I hope this is an encouragement to you as you go about your own busy life – make sure you are getting that time in His Word in order to manage everything that comes your way. For sure your loved ones will be grateful and the Lord will be pleased.
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Even without the busy-ness of a crowded schedule the busy-ness of just living (fixing meals, laundry, playing, reading stories) seems to push out the time spent reading His word if it's not a fixed and intentional, carved out time that I do first thing.
But you're so right – it's so needed as a priority in order to manage everything else