Do you know anyone who seems to rush through life? Some people refer to it as, “flying by the seat of your pants.” I used to be one of those people, living life for the next moment. So busy, that I couldn’t enjoy what I was doing at the moment, because I was thinking ahead to the next thing, reasoning that it will be here, next thing you know.
I can honestly say, it was not a fulfilling way to live. A few years ago, I chose to purpose my life to allow time to simply enjoy life. I find it very easy to slip back into that pattern of busyness…. But it is a pattern contrary to how I want to live. Excessive busyness effects my life negatively in many ways, however one area of my life suffers more than any other, my relationships.
I realized the other day, that I had not built enough time into our schedule that particular day for… mistakes, errors, disobedience….and guess what we had that day? ….sigh… So, guess who became very frustrated, and perhaps, I don’t know, yelled at their children? Hmm…yeah, me. Not good, especially if I want to have the law of kindness on my tongue. When I am rushed, I do not feel very patient, nor kind.
Not only does my busyness affect my relationship with my kiddos, it also affects my relationships with my friends. Have you ever had a conversation with someone who never really looks at you, rushes through the conversation, jumps from topic to topic so quickly you can hardly keep up, and when the encounter is over you feel as though you’ve just been on a ride in a tornado? I know I have been on both sides of that conversation. I’m pretty sure that had I been “loving my neighbor as myself” I would not have treated my friend in such a manner.
And what about dear Mr. OverKill? What part of me does he get at the end of the day?
My encouragement to you today is to be purposeful with your day and your time. Plan for interruptions to your day, especially if you are still training children at home. Remember to live in the moment, experience it fully…don’t rush through life to the next thing, for the next thing may never come.
So teach us to number our days,
That we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Psalm 90:12