“Spread Yourselves THICK!”
“Everything is permissible for me, but not everything is beneficial.” ~I Corinthians 6:12
Our oldest child, Daniel, made a grand pronouncement one morning upon learning that we all had to go to church early and stay through three services because of our ministry commitments. “You are spread way too thin! You people are like good jelly that’s wasted by being spread too thin on a big piece of toast. Nobody can taste how good you are.
Why don’t you work on spreading yourselves THICK!” Wow! Out of the mouths of babes… (Well, not exactly a babe at fourteen, but wise beyond his years.) We made a decision to “spread ourselves thick” and prayerfully simplified our lives over the next few months.
Building a quality relationship with God and with my children requires time and a peaceful heart. Clearly, the ability to draw the line on time commitments is a strong building block in my foundation as a parent. Certainly I am quick to protect my family from physical danger, financial ruin, or immoral influences, but it is easy to be oblivious to the danger of excessive busyness.
As we begin another school year, with all its demands and activities, remember to stop and evaluate your time commitments:
- Will the activity deepen my experience of God’s word, love, and truth, or will it drain me?
- Is this consistent with my gifts and calling or will it distract me from God’s true purposes for me?
- Are the commitments I make to my children’s activities a deterrent either to their (or my) well-being and spiritual development?
- Is our level of busyness causing our family to feel disconnected from each other?
Don’t waste the “jelly” of your gifts and energy by spreading yourself too thin.
Prayerfully consider how God is calling you and your family to spend your time, and focus on spreading yourselves thick!
For further reading on stress and finding peace amidst the busyness, check out the following resources:
- Your Family and Youth Sports: Maximize the Learning – Minimize the Stress
- The Most Important Thing Your Child Can Do!
- What You Really Need for Mother’s Day
