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A Time for Everything

April 10, 2012 by  · 12 Comments

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Ecclesiastes 3:1

In life, I have had to learn that no one else in the world will be responsible for my over-all well being. I have a husband and children who love me, but I am responsible for my rest, my quiet time, my eating and exercise and my chill time. I do have countless emails in my inbox that I would love to answer, and there are tasks calling my name around the house, but I have become the queen of turning my head away and sticking to my priorities. I have found that there will be just as many things screaming for my attention tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow. But today, I know that my body and mind need a little rest and that when I am a steward of my body, I am protecting my walk with the Lord. I am always simplifying and evaluating if something is worth the effort! I do think that making things beautiful and special during the holidays, birthdays, vacations etc. is worth the effort, as it builds the taste and values and work ethic and ministry skills of my children–-but all in its season. Sometimes I know that it may not be worth it to answer one more phone call or one more email–as this will certainly steal from my children and husband, who need me today.

Each of us has a different puzzle and different personality and we must accept our limitations within our own story and be comfortable being ourselves. I see so many moms seeking to live up to other’s expectations and ideals and then burning out in the process. I find in my own life that there is a rhythm … I have high work times followed by more restful times.

If we don’t eventually make peace with our own life circumstances, then we are in danger of cultivating a heart of bitterness or whining. But if we become the conductors of our own life symphonies and live within our own melody of life, we will last longer more gracefully with the God of grace who leads us.

What sort of season are you in? Is it a time to rest?

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  • Elizabeth Giger

    This is such a difficult thing for me as a mommy of very little ones. The busyness of having to do everything for the babies along with nursing and therefore not being able to leave them for long makes it really hard to rest. I struggle with convincing myself that I should not feel guilty for taking time away from babies and husband and chores to rest, but that resting will make me more able to care for those I love. I know this with my head, but my heart often sings a different song.

  • Jacqueline

    I agree, Elizabeth, that time of having small children is a unique one! I found I put a lot of pressure on myself and had too-high expectations on myself when my children were little.

    This post is timely for me as I’m stuggling with ill-health and find it hard to accept my limitations. I think I’m going to have to re-read this throughout the day to let Sally’s beautiful message sink in! I would love to handle my diseases with grace and not be apologetic if I can’t meet unrealistic expectations.

  • http://www.archerfriendly.com Archer

    Hi Sally! Thanks so much for sharing this. There’s a lot to think about here! I like your thoughts about making the extra effort to decorate for the holidays and birthdays. Would love to hear more of your thoughts on that.

  • Laurie

    But what should those boundaries be? That’s the hard part. They all seem important.

    • Misty Krasawski

      Oh, Laurie–how I wish someone else could tell me the answer to that question! :-) Alas, they cannot, which is why we won’t try to do that here. Your story is just that; your own. The Lord wants to communicate with you about it; He wants you to seek Him and ask Him those questions; wants to answer them for you and help you design your own life which will reflect your priorities and His wisdom given. Praying you hear, friend!

  • Lori

    Hi Sally!
    I love this new blog. The model of a mother was very skiewed growing up. I am loving getting to know you through both of your blogs. Your vision of Motherhood is exactly what I need to hear daily. Right now, I have a little guy and one on the way. My body these days tells me often I need to rest with God knitting this little one inside me, it takes alot of energy away. I find myself napping on the couch, while my little man is playing quietly in the floor in front of me. It has been nice to get the much needed sleep that I need. Sometimes I ask hubby if he can take over our nightly family time so I can go to bed a little early. It’s funny how another’s words can haunt you but you must try and stick to your guns and honor God with your time of rest. I hear my little guy say"How come Mommy is sleeping so much and not spending time with us. My hubby tells him how important it is for Mommy’s to rest when there is a baby being knitted together in her tummy. I’m very grateful for this time of rest. My little guy keeps me on the move most days.

  • Michelle Pugh Vantrease

    Love this. Thank you for the beautiful and freeing confirmation. You are such a blessing, and this ministry blog is so needful.
    Blessings to you and yours as you continue to follow God’s leading.
    In His Grace,
    Michelle

  • Katrina Peake

    This is interesting timing, confirmation I’m doing right. I’ve been so tired since #4 was born, back pain not helping, so started to think about staying home more. Decided to pull out of a play group I’ve been heavily involved in for 4 years, hard decision! but was going to stick with the homeschool group and prayer group. Hurt my back again quite bad, locked us all outside on a beautiful day for 5 hours (not as bad as it sounds!) and had a run of things like flat car battery, sick children, losing my voice for a week, tired children, etc etc when ever I tried to go somewhere! Finally got the message and have pulled out of everything, and am quite excited about it! No more pressure to be somewhere for certain amounts of time, but freedom to picnic in the forest or have friends over for play dates! And, less of their tired stressed mummy not coping with being out too much for my sweet babies to put up with ;-)

    • Misty Krasawski

      Isn’t it funny how we can seriously just want to hop, skip and jump when we pull out of a few things? A very good sign that we were overcommitted. Oh, my. Enjoy your freedom!

  • Christine Hoyt

    This also confirms that what I feel the Lord leading me in is right. I have one child with OCD and mild cerebral palsy and I have health problems and last month one of my children ( I have 4) was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. She is 7 and she was acutely ill by the time we realized what was going on. I have had to pull out of some homeschooling activities and I have sensed the condemnation of others at my decisions. I don’t think I have encountered such business caring for another than since I brought my firstborn home from the hospital and I am alot older and more tired now! I just felt that I had to guard myself some because my 2 healthy children were suffering from the high demands of the other 2 and of course I still had to care for the 2 with needs. Devotions have been almost non existent trying to sleep and find time and homeschooling and taking sugar tests and give insulin and so on. Maybe it doesn’t seem much to others but I have found it alot and need to recover some myself and have devotional time and just time to rest. So easy to think of all the things we have to do or should do and lose the most important.

    • Misty Krasawski

      Oh, Christine! Bless you. Having children dealing with illness is so difficult. Know that you are loved and it’s not a bad thing to care for yourself. Many times when life is crazy I’ve found it helpful to include my children in my not-so-quiet-now time. I need that time with the Lord, and it’s good for them to be part of it! Praying for you, dear one.

  • Amanda@Embracing Grace.org

    Such a great thing to remember. We are all on a unique journey for the Lord and must follow His direction for our life- not some mold we think we need to fit.