Is Your Family Too Busy?

Each week, is it a juggling act of sports and activities and carpools and meetings and church events?  Do you fly past each other as you rush out the door?  Are the treads on your tires and your tennis shoes wearing thin?

You are racing to finish homework, fold laundry, declutter the clutter, cook dinner, answer email, walk the dog and take care of the lawn

Can you relate to this madness?

Sisters, why do we do this?  Why do we pack so much into our days… into our lives… that we fly by the seat of our pants?  We find we’re racing from one thing to the next and are weary and frazzled when it’s all said and done.

But you know what, we justify the crazy schedules.   Tell me if you’ve ever said this:

* I just want my kids to have rich, full lives and experience so many different things.
* It’s not like I’m busy with bad things.  I’m busy doing Kingdom-building things!
* Once summer comes, things will be different.
* I like being busy because then I don’t have to deal with the real issues.
* Everyone needs me, so what other choice do I have

We rationalize our busyness

Ephesians 2:10 says: For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

This verse tells us we are created to work.  We aren’t designed to sit around and eat bon-bons (however sometimes that just sounds divine!).  Before the creation of the world, God knew exactly what He wanted us to focus our time and energy on.

My question is this.  Are we doing that?  Are we working the plan that God developed for us?  Or… are we focusing on the wrong things?

Here’s how you know.  Before you take on a project or a volunteer opportunity or another Bible study… do you pray to God, asking Him if that is His plan for you?

A few months ago, I was feeling very overwhelmed with my calendar.  When I sat down to look at it, I realized it was all good stuff.  None of it was a waste of time. 

But was it what He wanted me to be doing?

I began to lift up each thing on my calendar asking God if He wanted it to stay or go.  Some things were wholeheartedly approved.  Others had to be dropped. 

And you know what?  It was a freeing experience!

What I found was that those things that stayed were more fulfilling.  I had more time to pour into them.  I felt more focused and centered.

While this is a good practice for us… It’s a vital skill to pass on to our kids.   You see…

* If we model a chaotic life, they will see that as normal. 
* If we go 90 miles an hour, they will become adrenaline junkies.
* If we pack every second of every day with activity, they will lose the ability to entertain themselves.

Your homework assignment:  Sit down as a family with your calendar and pray together for guidance on what stays and what goes.  Explain to them that while God did create us to work and have fun, He didn’t tell us to max out our days… and our lives.  Talk to them about the importance of staying in God’s will and how He blesses us for doing so.

Remember, friends, that we must be intentional parents.  We need to remember that while our kids are young, we get to set the standard that will hopefully follow them as they get older. 

Teach your kids to guard against busyness.  It’s a rat race that leads to a dead-end.  And along the way, we lose touch with God and His will for our lives.

Remember the saying: “If the devil can’t make you bad, he’ll make you busy!” Let’s agree to model for our kids the importance of seeking God’s desire for our lives…

…including our calendars.

Carey Scott is an inspiration speaker and writer honest about her walk with the Lord stumbles, fumbles and all.  Her passion is to challenge women to be real with themselves, others and God.  You can learn more about her at www.careyscotttalks.com or subscribe and follow her blog Let’s Get Real.  Carey lives in Colorado with her husband and two young kids.