Guard against the B word

Here's what I'm wrestling with lately.  The dreaded B word.  Yep, BUSY, is the B word.  This was a kicker week.  Mike had school meetings til 8pm both Wednesday and Thursday evenings.  I worked 39 hours, spent Tues/Thur watching school lectures and studying, and Abby had 2 volleyball games.  Saturday morning we were in the historical area of the city at 7am for Carter's senior pics (Little side note, our photographer is fabulous and creative.  She totally captured Carter's artsy, funky, sweet and silly personality.  If you live near the DFW metroplex and need a good photograper, message me for he name).

By Saturday afternoon, we all lay on the couch relaxing and snoozing.  The little boys played, Carter took a nap, and we just chilled. I literally could not keep my eyes open!  The B word was circulating in my mind. I know many of you struggle with this as well.  What on earth are we doing?  We know our days are numbered.  The Scriptures compare our lives to a passing wind or a fading flower.  In Psalms, David says  Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is.

Psalm 39:3-5

Here is what I'm aiming for....saying NO to things that cause more and more nuttiness.  We have always had a rule that our kids can only be involved in one sport or extra event at a time.  More than sports, I need help setting boundaries.  I want to learn to evaluate everything that exhausts me through the Kingdom filter...in other words, does it really make a difference in the Kingdom?  Oh sure, sometimes you just gotta go buy toilet paper and donuts.  Certainly those have no Kingdom impact, but they are part of being human, as is sometimes taking a shopping trip or going to a sports event.  My friend Meredith(girl, only 6 weeks til our time to see Jen Hatmaker!!!) recommended a book that I must read.  It is called Margin by Dr. Swenson and is about creating balance in our lives...through a Kingdom lens.
I leave you with a challenge to say no to things that, in themselves are not bad, but do they really build up your family or your relationship with Jesus or others?
Here is a song to  help us remember the B word trap.  Veggie Tales made a cartoon teaching children about The Good Samaritan.  Along came the mayor and he stopped to talk to the poor cucumber on the side of the road.  He couldn't render any aid because he was too busy.  I wonder, in not such harsh words, how many times have my actions said this to my children?

"I'm busy, busy
Shockingly busy
You've no idea, how much I have to do!
Busy, busy
Dreadfully busy
Much, much too busy for you!"