A day in the life of the average American mom goes something like this:
- Wake up
- Get kids up
- Fix breakfast
- Pack lunches
- Get kids to school
- Get to work (house or other kinds)
- Pick up kids from school
- Run errands
- Snack in car
- Take son to baseball while daughter does homework in the backseat
- Take daughter to dance while son does homework in the dance studio
- Drive home
- Throw laundry in
- Throw chicken nuggets on the table
- Throw kids in the tub
- Throw kids in bed
- Throw yourself in bed to do it all again tomorrow
What’s the problem? Working is good. Right? Making sure we have everything we need is responsible. Right? Making sure my kids are well rounded is right. Right?
Is it right? Is our busyness right? Or could it actually be sinful?
As I raise my family, minister beside my husband and run a business I am asking myself these questions.
Does your busyness distract you from Jesus?
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary,who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42
Oh boy, how many times have I made sure I washed the dishes and cleaned the kitchen but by the time I got to bed I was too tired to pray or read the scripture? I am pretty sure that’s what Jesus is talking about. I am distracted from the one thing that matters with a lot of stuff that doesn’t.
Do you worry about your schedule and to-do list?
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Phil. 4:6
Do you lay awake at night worrying about how you’re going to get all the things on your list done tomorrow? Sometimes I lay in bed and play yesterday, today and tomorrow forward and backward in my head. It drives me nuts.
Have you ever noticed the Bible actually commands us to “don’t worry” ? It is just like do not covet and do not murder. God says, “Do not worry!”
As I am sitting here meditating on this one I hear Jesus say, “If your hand offends you cut if off.” Cut. It. Off. Are you serious Jesus? That is pretty radical and uncalled for isn’t it?
He repeats, “Cut if off.”
If duties on a list cause me to worry and worry is sin, I better cut it off. I better get to hacking my schedule and whittling it down to a manageable and peaceful pace.
Does earth keep you from seeing heaven?
Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. Luke 12:33-34
Working overtime to make the bills this month kept you from church this week. Or for me I go but I sit in my seat thinking about other things rather than giving my thoughts and my heart to the worship or bible study.
Mound of laundry that needs washed keeps you from spending time loving on your kids. Ok, that is totally not me. I would much rather lay in bed watching Rescue Bots with my 4 year-old than touch a basket of dirty underwear. But for some conscientious mom out there it might be a struggle. I’m just covering all the bases.
Here’s the thing, being at work or worrying about work, house chores and laundry are of earth. They are earth. Earth is not heaven.
We are all investing in something. We have to remember that the mortgaged house will burn. The rickety car will be destroyed. The dirty laundry will be gone. What will remain is your soul.
Please, please, please don’t let your busy life keep you from investing in eternity? Don’t let your schedule keep you from an intimate, daily walk with God. And know, that what Jesus offers is more than worth it. And when I forget it, please, please, please remind me!
Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit. Prov. 23: 4
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.- Jesus
