May 5, 2020
I’m a list person. Making a list takes the jumbled mess out of my head so I can think straight and not struggle to remember the “million things” I have to do. A list is like a map for my day and without it I am lost. I LOVE to cross things off my list. Or better yet, use my favorite: the check mark! It brings me satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment to “get things done”. The best feeling by far is to check off the last item on a long “to do” list. Woo hoo! Unfortunately, the rush is short lived because there’s always a new list to make. Sometimes I become frustrated with the futility of it all. Some things aren’t even worth putting on a list. I remember as a kid my most hated chore was dusting. I would say to my mom, “What’s the point? The dust is just gonna come back.” In fact, aren’t all household chores pretty pointless if one goes by that philosophy? I’ve often commented that no one notices what I do unless I don’t do it. But I still keep at it because I’ve learned that procrastination just makes a chore harder later. I’d rather dust with a “swiffer” every week than have to use a beach towel and a trowel to remove the dust every six months. Swiffering is quicker, lighter work and makes me feel like June Cleaver, who managed to keep an immaculate house while wearing a dress, heels and a pearl necklace. (1950's sitcom reference) Dusting after a long period of procrastination makes me feel like a lumberjack with a bad attitude and a dull ax. So, dusting makes “the list” every week and gets checked off about 50% of the time. Lists are important for helping us not forget to do important things. Lists are good... unless they become the master of our universe. Sometimes we might need to dial it down a notch and remember that the chores and responsibilities will still be there tomorrow and be sure we are attending to what is most important and might not be there tomorrow. (family, friends, pets, our health) But if we must live by a list, then maybe we should make sure that self care, both mental and physical, is written down as number 1. Having prayer and meditation at the top of our daily list of things “to do” can add to the quality of our life, while prioritizing exercise, eating right and annual doctor and dentist visits can add to the quantity. God loves us. He wants to hear from us and speak to us daily. He wants us to take good care of ourselves. So be sure to put that on the list! Isaiah 26:3 says: “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” And 2 Corinthians 4:18 gives this reminder: “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 1. Spend time with God and take good care of yourself. (Check!) 2. Smile and be joyful! (Check!)
I’m a list person. Making a list takes the jumbled mess out of my head so I can think straight and not struggle to remember the “million things” I have to do. A list is like a map for my day and without it I am lost. I LOVE to cross things off my list. Or better yet, use my favorite: the check mark! It brings me satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment to “get things done”. The best feeling by far is to check off the last item on a long “to do” list. Woo hoo! Unfortunately, the rush is short lived because there’s always a new list to make. Sometimes I become frustrated with the futility of it all. Some things aren’t even worth putting on a list. I remember as a kid my most hated chore was dusting. I would say to my mom, “What’s the point? The dust is just gonna come back.” In fact, aren’t all household chores pretty pointless if one goes by that philosophy? I’ve often commented that no one notices what I do unless I don’t do it. But I still keep at it because I’ve learned that procrastination just makes a chore harder later. I’d rather dust with a “swiffer” every week than have to use a beach towel and a trowel to remove the dust every six months. Swiffering is quicker, lighter work and makes me feel like June Cleaver, who managed to keep an immaculate house while wearing a dress, heels and a pearl necklace. (1950's sitcom reference) Dusting after a long period of procrastination makes me feel like a lumberjack with a bad attitude and a dull ax. So, dusting makes “the list” every week and gets checked off about 50% of the time. Lists are important for helping us not forget to do important things. Lists are good... unless they become the master of our universe. Sometimes we might need to dial it down a notch and remember that the chores and responsibilities will still be there tomorrow and be sure we are attending to what is most important and might not be there tomorrow. (family, friends, pets, our health) But if we must live by a list, then maybe we should make sure that self care, both mental and physical, is written down as number 1. Having prayer and meditation at the top of our daily list of things “to do” can add to the quality of our life, while prioritizing exercise, eating right and annual doctor and dentist visits can add to the quantity. God loves us. He wants to hear from us and speak to us daily. He wants us to take good care of ourselves. So be sure to put that on the list! Isaiah 26:3 says: “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” And 2 Corinthians 4:18 gives this reminder: “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 1. Spend time with God and take good care of yourself. (Check!) 2. Smile and be joyful! (Check!)
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