8.27.2011

Busy, busy, busy!

I noticed a couple of years ago that whenever someone asked me how I was, one of my top three responses was "Oh, busy!" And almost everyone I met understood, and justified my busy-ness because I have toddlers. I became entrenched in the cultural lie that it is normal to always be busy.


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I don't want to be busy anymore. I have come to loathe "busy."


Busy means "oh, I have to run here and do this and attend this meeting and bring my kids to drop them off here and I have to make and get to all these appointments and make sure I have some do-gooder things on my to-do list and...."


Busy means I don't have much time to spend with my God, minister to my husband, disciple my daughters or take care of my home - because I'm hardly ever there!


Ladies, if you are married and/or have children, the Lord does not desire for you to live a "busy" life. He desires for you to find your real, deep joy in Him and His calling on your life, which is 1) being a wife, 2) being a mom, and 3) caring for your home.

In Paul's letter to Titus, God says it is GOOD for women to love their husbands (of course!), love their children (don't we all?), AND to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, and obedient to their husbands. Those things are what God values in a wife & mom's life! Nowhere do you find anything exhorting you to over-book your life or your family's life with too many outside commitments.


Rather, the Lord desires that a woman live a FULL life. Full, not busy. There's a difference. The Proverbs 31 woman lived a full life. Her days were full of rising early to provide food for her household; to seek out the food and other essentials needed at home; to instruct the children and be a blessing to her husband in his work; and to stay up late providing for their clothing and home needs. Her days and her life were bursting with a massive investment of time in her family and her home. And you know what? She is praised for it. Because she was living out her God-appointed role joyfully. 


I want a full life. Full of time to soak in the Word and time to help Will run the Bible House. Time to do dishes, clean bathrooms, make beds, and cook healthy meals. Time to spend every minute necessary to teach my children about and how to imitate Jesus. Time to play with the girls and teach them how to effectively run their own home someday. Time to say to a friend "oh, yes, I'm available to watch your kids in a pinch", because I've got nothing much on the schedule. Time to invest in making my home a place where people can come, put up their feet, and experience the peaceful presence of Jesus Christ - because I've made my home a place for Him.


I reject a busy life. It's not that there won't be days when we have lots of things to do; it's that I defy the word "busy" to describe my general lifestyle.


Here's to a fullness of days in Jesus, and a lifestyle that is not dictated by appointments, lessons, and daycare schedules. Here's to enjoying each day and looking forward in anticipation to how Jesus can minister to others through me, because I am available. Here's to the joy of knowing that my life does not have to be busy to count eternally - the joy of a full life, thanks to Jesus.

For His glory,
now and forever!
Lisha :)

I'm sharing this post over at A Proverbs 31 WifeThe Modest Mom, The Better MomSplashin' Glory, The Time-Warp Wife, Growing Home, Teaching What is Good, Far Above Rubies, Cornerstone Confessions, Deep Roots at Home, Walking Redeemed, Raising HomemakersA Wise Woman Builds Her HomeHope in Every Season, I Choose Joy, Serving Joyfully, Simply Helping Him, and Essential Thing Devotions!

14 comments:

  1. Amen!!! I wrote a post recently on the same subject... it's so hard to not be "busy" because this world thinks busy = important.

    You say it so well right here, just like it says in Titus 2: "He desires for you to find your real, deep joy in Him and His calling on your life, which is 1) being a wife, 2) being a mom, and 3) caring for your home."

    I saw your post on the "Modest Mom Blog" link-up. Thanks for sharing this!

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    1. You're welcome, I'm thankful that this is an encouragement, and that He is putting this on the hearts of other ladies! :)

      Thanks for stopping by!
      ~Lisha

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  2. No more Miss Busy. Miss filled to the brim works better for me.

    I would be delighted to have you share this with our group of moms. Stop by to be encouraged as we have a guest post splashing us all in God's goodness. And as always, I would be crazy honored to have you link up.

    Just moms. Sharing our notes. Creating a melody.
    http://justsarahdawn.blogspot.com/2013/09/thank-goodness.html

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    1. Thank you for the invitation! Miss Filled-to-the-brim. I like it! :)

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  3. I love what you have written here. I identify with so much of what you have said. I loathe busyness too and am intentional about my diary to keep it under control.

    But I also have lots of things I like to do. I have a long list of books to read, many projects on the go and of course, blogging. But I want to do each thing well - honour God, be a good wife and mother, write quality devotions...

    It's a tough call sometimes.

    Thanks for this great post.
    Linked here from Growing Home Blog Linkup.
    Blessings
    Mel from Essential Thing Devotions

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    1. You're right on - it IS a tough call. Especially where we feel that God has given us a desire/gift/dream, I think. I have a passion to minister to young ladies (middle/high school), but right now He has asked me to let go of working with that ministry at our church as my girls are getting older and are more in need of my passion & my guidance!

      The comfort is that when we let Him order our days and our dreams, He gives us plenty of time to do that which He's called us to. No busy-ness needed.

      Thank you so much for stopping by!
      ~Lisha :)

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  4. Found you on Time-Warp, I really like this post! I have three toddlers, ages 3, 2 and 1, all 10 months apart. Everyone talks about how busy I must be but I'm really not. I see moms driving here and there, appointments, play dates, errands, but without a triple stroller I can't take them anywhere and I've often felt guilty about it. I keep up with my home, play with the babies, instant message with my husband, probably spend too much time online, but I also have time for God. Now I don't feel so guilty about it!

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    1. I'm so thankful that this encouraged you. You're a mom, and your precious little ones need you! And they need you to point them to Jesus continually - a less hectic schedule is necessary. :)

      In order for you to pour the love & service of Jesus into their lives, they need you to have that time with God. You're headed in the right direction :)

      I'm glad you stopped by!
      ~Lisha :)

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  5. Amen. I have read many posts about the glorification of busy. People find it difficult when I say I have a pretty slow life and we don't like to be unnecessarily busy. Thank you for the encouragement. Stopping by from Encourage One Another. Have a blessed day. Tara.

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    1. I have a dear friend who once admonished me to not trade what is best for what is good. Being involved in several ministries and play dates, etc was good - all noble and useful ways to spend time - but I'm learning that what's best for my family is for me to not be pulled in so many directions, especially as the girls are still so young.

      Thank you for stopping by!
      ~Lisha :)

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  6. Thank you, LIsha, for sharing your thoughts. Oh, how I love the mornings when I have time not just to read my Bible and pray, but to sit and seep in it. Keep sounding the call!

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    1. I look forward to those kinds of mornings as well! Thank you for your kind encouragement!

      ~Lisha :)

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  7. Hi Lisha! I am coming over from Essential Fridays.

    You have a lot of wisdom for someone so young. I was a whirling dervish when my kids were young and I see that I didn't have too much peace on the inside.

    That's the place that counts!
    So nice to meet you today, Lisha :)
    Ceil

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    1. Thank you for stopping by, Ceil! The things I've learned have come from years of 1) doing it the hard way, and then 2) spending a lot of time seeking God for His wisdom and mercy! And He reminds me that walking in His wisdom brings greater joy than trying to figure it all out on my own. :) Your words are sweet and encouraging - thank you!

      ~Lisha :)

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