About a month ago, I went to hear Matthew Kelly speak. You may have seen a snapshot about it in the What I'm Reading on my Hang Out page. His message about becoming the best version of yourself in his book, “Perfectly Yourself," has been so impacting. I highly advise reading it.
Talk about reading the right book at the right time. I am at a place in my life where I need to stay with it right now. To stay grounded being my best self. I have all these little cards everywhere that say things like:
“The best way to get something done is to begin.” “Distraction and Procrastination are not my friends.” “Right here, right now.” “Game over.” “Just do it.” “What matters most right now?”
I have a lot of post it notes to take down before our open house on Saturday! We're selling our house. That is huge. If you have ever moved after 25 years in your home, you know what I am talking about. That’s why the message from Matthew Kelly a month ago was so timely to help me keep it all in perspective.
I wrote down this from that night:
“God wants you to become a phenomenal decision maker. Say yes to the right things and no to the wrong things.”
When I heard that, I was like, “Well, that’s easy. I know the difference between right and wrong.” Then I started having all these time challenges and questioned my decision making.
"There is a season for everything, and a time for every event under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot what was planted." - Ecclesiastes 3:1-2
I am definitely uprooting my life, but here is my conundrum... Should I be packing up my life of material accumulation when my grandson wants me to play with him? He’s only going to be ten months old once in his life.
Should I be trying to write when my daughter wants to have a heart-to-heart talk? When she just wants to listen and be heard?
Are you seeing my struggle here? I woke up this morning totally overwhelmed by all I did not do yesterday. My day did not go as planned, but who's plan are we talking about here?
Here is my epiphany this morning. If I am obedient, the plan works. If I stray and distract myself with things that take away from those meaningful moments, then my day will not go as planned and I will kick myself to the curb of self inflicted blame every time. If I am obedient and the day (or the hour) does not go as planned, I will be okay. Because obedience is rewarded and everything will all work out.
I used to distract myself from things I did not want to do with drinking. Talk about a time sucker. That could kill the rest of the day and it did every single time. I can be guilty of still doing that though, just not with alcohol. I can avoid what I am supposed to be doing with different distractions. Things like the rabbit trail of social media when I am supposed to be writing or answering emails. Or lingering in a store when I should be getting home. It all adds up.
I was in a seminar once where they had us look up a setting on our phones that told you how much time you spent texting, instagramming, etc. I did it and I was shocked. It all adds up.
See for yourself. On an iPhone, open Settings, go to Battery and then click on the little clock on the right. Be prepared to be stunned. Everyone (including me) runs around saying there is not enough hours in the day. Well, compared to ten years ago, there isn’t! Ten years ago, I would not have lost 2 1/2 hours to screen time. After adding up my time on social media, my fitness pal, the weather and whatever else I thought was totally necessary at the time that was my total for the day. No wonder I felt like the day was getting away from me.
My message here today is short and sweet. Live in the moment. Do the next right thing and then do it again and again and again. Time passes no matter if you're doing screen time or doing the next right thing in front of you. It could be washing windows (who am I kidding, I don’t do that.) So okay, let's say packing up another box or playing with my grandsons.
Choose the moment in front of you and just do it. When you close your eyes at night if you listen closely, you will hear these words, “Well done my good and faithful servant.”
Much more rewarding than anything your phone ever told you.
Amen?
Peace on your weekend, Sherry
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