busy and ruled by our schedule, we’re often using our time as a cover-up for
what’s in our hearts. It’s easier to stay busy sometimes than dealing with our
underlying fears, failures, emotions, and worries. No calendar overhaul will
change our hearts. But we often find that as we make concrete changes our
hearts, too, change.
So how do we get our lives back from a hectic
schedule? How do we break free from busyness to live lives that are peaceful,
reflective of our goals and our faith, and work towards the health of our
families, our neighbors, and the world around us?
Here are a few ways to
start:
1. Stop and Pray
We have to first stop
and take account of our schedules. Get your calendar out and sit down with those
in your family who make the decisions and discuss what you’re already committed
to. What brings you life and joy? What furthers your purpose as an individual or
a family? What are you doing just because you think it’s expected of
you?
Pray over your calendar. Our time is a precious commodity we can use
to love God and love others. When we’re so busy, we don’t have the space in our
lives to love others well. Pray for guidance that God would allow your
commitments to reflect what He loves and what He’s doing in the world.
2. Set Goals
Assess your goals and create a personal or
family mission statement. What are your goals as a family? If you want your
children (and you!) to increase in kindness, faithfulness, and love of God and
neighbor, does what you have on your calendar reflect those goals? Spend some
time articulating your long-term goals for growth. Then take these goals and
look at your commitments.
Evaluate how you spend your time. For instance,
if hospitality and welcome are important to how you live out your faith, then
make sure that’s reflected on your calendar.
3. Say “No” to Make Room
for “Yeses”
We can’t be superheroes and we can’t do everything. If
you’re a working mother, it might be hard to join the PTA and volunteer in your
child’s class. That’s okay. We don’t need to do everything. But it may be
possible to invite another family for a barbecue on the weekend and help out by
teaching Sunday School at church.
Remember your goals. We have to
constantly re-evaluate our schedules knowing both what God is calling us to and
how he’s equipped us as individuals to work as a body of believers. That means
that we have to say a lot of “no’s” before we’re able to say “yes.” Saying “no”
will free up space in our hectic schedules for us to say the right “yes” that
will not only make us feel less harried, but more than that, will
help.
4. Schedule
As you continue to work with your calendar,
and as you pray, set goals, say no so you can say appropriate yeses, and
evaluate, schedule the things that further your mission statement. Make room in
your calendar for the long-term projects and dreams that get crushed out by
daily minutiae. Pray for your eyes to be opened to needs around you and allow
the Holy Spirit to move in you to work for God’s kingdom right where you
are.
May our calendars and schedules reflect not only our own goals, but
more importantly, may they be instruments to love God and love our neighbor.
[written by Ashley Hales]
