In Other Words

"One reason we are so harried and hurried is that we make yesterday and tomorrow our business, when all that legitimately concerns us is today. If we really have too much to do, there are some items on the agenda which God did not put there. Let us submit the list to Him and ask Him to indicate which items we must delete. There is always time to do the will of God. If we are too busy to do that, we are too busy."

~ Elisabeth Elliott ~

When I chose this wonderful quote by Elisabeth Elliott I wasn't even thinking about the upcoming holiday season. I just thought it is a great reminder to myself and I really wanted to share it with everyone. But, now I can see how timely it really is.

The past few days have been a wonderful change from the ordinary routine. I've, along with Chris, Caleb, and Eowyn, have been with at my Dad's house. We've eaten turkey way too many times through Thanksgiving dinner and numerous turkey sandwiches and we've enjoyed fellowship with the entire family. My sister and her family and my brother all came into town so we say Thanksgiving and celebrate an early Christmas together. It has been bliss.

But, last night I sat down and thought about all that is coming up in the next month. I have two MOPS meetings left in 2007 to set up for and attend/help run. I have a doctor's appointment. My brother is graduating from seminary with his Ph.D and that means a weekend trip to attend that. We might swing by some friends' house on our way home from that. And then we travel to Illinois (a good 18 hour trip one way) along with Chris' sister (20-something weeks pregnant) and her husband for Christmas on Chris' side of the family. Whoo! As I thought through our schedule I got overwhelmed and discouraged. How am I going to do all this? When will I keep up the house? When will I finish Christmas cards? When will I finish Christmas shopping? When will I bake? On and On my thoughts raced.

Soon after my time of worry and panic I sat down at the computer and reread this post. Sigh! How true it is! Why am I so "harried and hurried?" When I am worrying about tomorrow and making it my "business" I am not thinking about God and His goodness. I am not remembering that He will always provide not only in our physical needs but also in the proper ordering of our lives if we just let Him. I was not allowing Him to do that. I was trying to fit everything into my schedule and not-so-surprisingly nothing seemed to fit just right.

I have since submitted all the things to do to the Lord and I am at much greater peace. I know what I have to do tomorrow and where I need to go and that is all I am allowing myself to think about. God will take care of the following days as they come to me one by one. I will make my To-Do list each morning and pray that God will help me delete the things that can wait till another time. Of course, there are certain things I must prepare for now such as an upcoming trip but I know that I can prepare bit by bit on a daily basis instead of frantically when it is too late. When I plan this way there is no worry and much more security.

I pray that I will learn how to not do too much but to get what needs to be done when it needs to be done. One of my ultimate desires in managing my home is for my husband and child (and hopefully, children) to feel peace as they come home at night and as they play inside and out and I know a major factor of that peace is that Mommy is at peace with what she is doing. I know that if I can be at peace during these hectic holidays, I can be peaceful during other days.

I pray that everyone give their quickly-filling-up lists during this Christmas season to the Lord as well. I pray that all the things we are doing never blurs the TRUE reason we celebrating in the first place.

Please click through the Mister Linky below to hear what other thoughtful women thought about the quote.

Thank you "In Other Words" for allowing me to host this week. It has been fun! ;-)





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