Devotionals
My mother and my son had a conversation yesterday about the way that things 'used to be'.
My son was stunned to learn that all members of every family were expected to work, from smallest helping out at home, to oldest, either working outside the home, or contributing by also helping out at home, or gardening to grow food. The average weekly salary was $100.00 a week, and it seemed like riches. When was the last time you thought about $100.00 as riches? Seems like a pittance to me. I don't know anyone who could make it on such a small amount these days. Not only that but when I was growing up, my mom and stepdad had a mortgage in the grand ole amount of----$77.00 per month! I can't even imagine it. My mortgage is five times plus that amount!
These days it seems there's not enough, never enough, time or money to get everything done. Families are scattered. Money is scarce. Time races by us as we desperately, sometimes surgically, try to slow it down. We are bombarded from all sides, pulled in every direction our poor bodies can go. We have to choose our 'battles', pick our directions on a daily basis, and plan our time to the nearest millisecond in order to keep up.
Slow down. We'd do well to remind ourselves that we can only do what we can do. We cannot, and should not, try to do it all. And it's okay. Some things will always be more important than others. There ARE things that really don't have to be done--things we really don't have to do--things that can wait or be allowed to fall by the wayside.
Arrange your life so the important things are always front and center. Then everything else will fall into its correct place.
1) God is first. I don't care what the magazines say. Your family is not first and should not be first in your life, no matter how much you love them. God owns the top spot in your heart and in your life, and if you find He isn't there, fix it. Without Him, you have absolutely nothing. Without Him, nothing else matters, and your life will never make sense to you. Put God first, make sure you keep Him there, and then just watch what He does.
2) Family is second. I know a lot of people put work and their jobs in this spot. It doesn't deserve this space. Your marriage, your children, your family--they have this place. You must take care of your family first, even if it is in spite of your job.
3) Now comes work. Obviously, this is important. If you have no income, how will you take care of your family? Work is important even if you don't get paid for it. We were made to move, to work, to think. While resting is important, what good is it if you haven't done anything to tire yourself out with first? We must work in order to have the basic necessities of our lives--food, clothing, and shelter. Not cars, boats, vacations, and cable TV. Not even the Internet (gasp!). Those are the extras, not the basics. Make sure you have a firm grasp on what it is that you're working for.
Arranging your priorities in this way does not guarantee you a life of bliss and no worries. It simply allows you to think and reflect for yourself on what truly matters in life. It allows you to focus on what matters and what you CAN do.
Stop trying to cross off every single little item on your never-ending 'to-do' list. Do what you can, focus your attention on what's necessary, and train yourself to leave the rest. Try to eliminate a few of the distractions that prevent you from seeing what's important and steal your time away.
Let today take care of itself---tomorrow isn't here yet.
Have a great day!
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