It’s
September, and for teachers and parents, September means back to school. You know, The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year.
I’m
a parent, and know lots of other parents, and it seems that back to school is
what everyone is focused on these days.
Despite events happening around the world and in our own country,
newsworthy stories about war-torn countries and our involvement, or some
starlet’s behavior on an awards show, the undercurrent is all things back to
school.
Grade
levels. Teachers. Supplies.
Clothes shopping. New
schools. Old schools.
Moms
of young ones talk about their own tears as they watch kindergartners ride the
bus for the first time. Parents of older
elementary ages and middle schoolers lament that the full swing of after school
and evening activities will soon begin and no one is ready for it. Parents of seniors are wondering where the
time went as they have finished their children’s college visits for the summer
and are onto college applications and the last year of high school. College students are gone already. Thoughts about packed lunches and school
meetings and what to make for dinner and the ominous threat of homework and
tests come to the forefront of our thoughts as we all find new schedules.
Everyone
is changing, growing, preparing for the new.
For
me, back to school means a whole new routine.
Finding my way through the day that doesn’t include two other people
involves a new order, new priorities. I
am not very disciplined without a routine.
Tasks that I put on myself are numerous and I see them pile up if I don’t
give them each their own time, and my reaction is to freeze up and do none of
them. To stay focused, I draw up a daily
schedule, keep my head down and my nose to the grindstone. I tell myself that life doesn’t stop just
because I do. The fear of being
smothered by household chores and other tasks is usually enough to keep me
going every day. At the end of the day I
am successful in keeping the pile from collapsing. But that is no way to live.
My
way through life is not fulfilled by having a routine. No matter how I try to order it, something
will fall out of place. There has to be
flexibility for other things to fit in there, because other things will come
up. More important things.
I
pray for wisdom these days, wisdom and clarity to know what it is God intends for
me, what my role is in his intention. I
picture Solomon praying for wisdom, being wise enough to
write books on common wisdoms and have them published in a book that millions
of us read centuries later for answers, God’s very word. Solomon was the wisest man that ever lived. If Solomon could ask for wisdom and receive
it, why can’t I? Wisdom can only help me.
I
forget about all of Solomon’s mistakes.
I
need to remember that even Solomon, in all his wisdom and success, made
mistakes, that even within his organized, flourishing kingdom, his wisdom
benefited him only when his focus was on God.
When that focus slipped, he was led away from God, and his kingdom
suffered. (see 1 Kings 11:3).
Like
him, my kingdom – household, relationships, life – will suffer if I don’t apply wisdom
to my decisions. But more importantly, I
have to have the wisdom to focus on God first.
When I look at my mountains of tasks through the filter of God’s wisdom,
a new routine doesn’t seem as important.
What becomes more important is to please him.
*******
Give me an understanding heart so that I can
govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this
great people of yours? 1
Kings 3:9 (NLT)
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools
despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1:7 (NIV)
Thanks for for your thoughts this morning as I read them just after praying for wisdom for the day and finding balance. My mind sure goes all sorts of places and I tend to beat myself up with my thoughts without keeping God's truth in the forefront. Enjoy the day!
ReplyDeleteThank you Lara! When balance includes God in the center, that's the only time there is actual balance. I need to remember that, too.
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