Busyness

Busyness
By Angie Ketcham

Soccer games. Choir concerts. School projects. On and on it goes.  It seems that sometimes it's never ending when you have a family.  And it's true.  Usually in our house we're going three separate ways just to get everybody where they need to be.  It's exhausting!  I'm thankful in my house, we finally have multiple drivers that can get around on their own, but still, is it too much? 

I long for the simpler days when we would have dinner together with nothing else on the calendar for that night.  I long for the laughter around the table as we played games together without having to run out for this meeting or that.  I long for the time spent in the Word as we would gather around as a family and have devotions.  It just seems these days there's just not a lot of time for that.  Schedules full of well-meaning activity has somehow become what our lives consist of.  And I long for a break. 


But I say yes.  Yes to the extra sleepover that everyone's going to.  Yes to the football tournaments that will just be 3 Sundays this season.  Yes to teaching the lady's bible study on Tuesday nights.  Yes to the bunco group on Fridays.  Yes to volunteering at the home school Mother's tea.  And all the while, I'm being sucked of any energy I have to give.  Any energy to give my family.  Any energy to give my husband.  Any energy to give myself.  Any energy to give my God.  I'm spent.

What will it take to break this crazy cycle?  It is my prayer that God doesn't get my attention with something that has to break me.  Can't I learn my priorities before I have to be tested in them?  Can't I learn the sanctity of the word, "NO"?  Can't I get the bigger picture of how God sees all of this busyness?  

In His still calm voice, He calls me to rest.  He calls me to rest in Him.  To soak up His presence.  To spend time with Him.  To calm the crazy, needless running and spend time on those things that are really important.  Those things that can't be redone.  Time.  Conversation.  Hugs.  Attention.  Peace.  A home-cooked meal.  A smile.  

Lord, calm my heart to hear from you.  Help me to only do the things you would have me do.  Help me to clear away the clutter and focus on those things that are eternal.  And worthy.  And worth my time.  Help me to savor each moment you have given me and give freely to others in return.

Amen.