I go through spurts of feeling overwhelmed...some weeks are better than others and other weeks are great! I think some of it is the season of life the Lord has me in. My kids are starting to grow up in their thinking...they demand much more of me emotionally than they used to and life seems full of questions! But, on the other hand, their bodies have not grown up quite as much and there are still so many things in our home in which they are not capable of lending a hand in, yet. Don't get me wrong...they serve! Folding the laundry, emptying the dishwasher, vacuuming, wiping down the bathroom counters, sweeping the floor...but I am still at the stage of double checking and touch-ups, of constantly training them HOW to do a task.
I know that God encourages us to not grow weary for in due season we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. And I rest in that and rejoice in that. I desire to be wise with my time in this season of life and so I am working on the skill of multi-tasking. Don't laugh...I really am!:) You all know what multi-tasking is...the ability to do multiple things at the same time...or as close to the same time as possible. It sounds like almost an insane thing to attempt (my husband runs from the very word!:)) and yet it is something that most of us gals have to do on a regular basis. But, I know my own heart: so quick to complain in my spirit, so quick to become goal oriented and give my kids the "in a minute" answer instead of seeking to meet their needs, so quick to half listen while I am "half cleaning, half cooking and half making a grocery list!" and my hubby and kids are left feeling unloved and unimportant! So, the question for me becomes, how can I multi-task to the glory of God? CAN I multi-task to the glory of God?
I believe the answer is yes to both questions. But, let me be quick to say that our husbands, kids, family and friends are NOT a task...they are people. And, the second that we think that we can "multi-task" them (like I sadly do at times) is the second we have started sinning. So, if that is you, then join me in first repenting and then putting on the heart of Christ...a heart of LOVE (I Cor. 13).
I read/skimmed a book a couple of months ago (I'll work on getting the title for you..to give credit where credit is due!) that helped me wrestle through some of those thoughts and I am, again, looking to my notes as I need a refresher. I thought maybe you could benefit from it, too.:)
TIPS FOR MULTI-TASKING TO THE GLORY OF GOD:
1)Have a thankful heart! These tasks have come to you from the loving hand of God...not necessarily to make you happy...but, for sure, to make you HOLY! So rejoice!
2)Be content! I love the quote by Francis De Sales: "Accept His will entirely, and never suppose that you could serve Him better in any other way. You can never serve Him well, save in the way He chooses." And, YES, you can serve Him best in wiping bottoms :), sorting the laundry, making dinner and picking up the house AGAIN!!
3)Be mindful! Proverbs 23:7 says, "As a man thinketh in his heart, so he is." Isn't that so true?!! The way we THINK affects the way we LOOK at our circumstances, other people and ourselves and determines what we will DO when we are done thinking. In my opinion, one of the greatest verses a believer should commit to memory is 1 Corinthians 10:5 "We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of Christ and we take EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE TO OBEY CHRIST."
I'll list a couple more tomorrow. I know these are "heart heavy" and not so "hands on", but we will never truly be effective at multi-tasking to the glory of God if our hearts are not right! If you have practical tips, PLEASE SHARE! I love hearing from my sisters in the Lord...some whom I have never actually met! :) And I know that your thoughts can bless and encourage a lot of other hearts too!
Comments
Something you wrote above that though caught my eye, as it is something that my husband and I were discussing over the phone just last night: "...so quick to become goal oriented and give my kids the 'in a minute' answer instead of seeking to meet their needs..."
Just wondering what your thoughts are on this: In appropriate instances, is it not beneficial to tell our children from time to time "in a minute"? Matt and I were thinking along the lines of them respecting the fact that Mom (or Dad) is busy at the moment, and teaching them to be patient and respectful (and not self-centered. Eventually asking us, "Mom, when you are done w/ such and such, would you please help me with_______?"
My husband comes at it from the perspective of a "boss" at work, saying there are adult employees who "have never grown up" and who think the world "revolves around them", and when they don't get what they want when they want it, they seek negative-attention. As a former teacher of middle-schoolers, I of course saw the same thing in some students: self-absorbed, little patience, expecting me to stop whatever I am doing (even w/ other students) to tend to their needs, pronto.
Anyway... I LOVE my two precious gifts-from-God DEARLY...and I know that as a mom I am CALLED to love (and serve) my children, as well as to train and teach. As I seek to follow Christ, I want to set an example to my kids of a "servant" and be a servant-leader, because I certainly want my children to emulate that and serve others in love, as well. But is there not a time to intentionally tell them, "You really need to wait a minute, and respect what I am doing right now. I will be with you as soon as I am done."?
Just wondering what your thoughts are... Please share whatever is on your heart! And thanks again for your blog. How cool that we can discuss such things and hopefully "edify" & encourage one another in the things of God.
Thanks, Kristin!
Linda, I COMPLETELY agree with you! I was coming at it more from the aspect of MY heart and how I can be so engrossed in what I am doing that I keep repeating the "in a minute" type of mindset with my kids.
On the other hand, my kids can be very rude and insensitive to what is going on around them and can just blurt out a need for me, or interrupt without care or even noticing that I am talking to someone else, etc. So, a while back we heard a good tip that we use in our house and wherever else we go :) It's called the "quiet hand". If our kids need us and we are in the middle of something...whether it be talking to someone else, on the computer, on the phone, etc...they are to place a quiet hand on our arm or leg (whatever they can reach) and we place our hand on them to acknowledge that we know they need our attention...but it is their job to wait patiently beside us until we turn our full attention to them. It has taught them patience (although...there have been many spankings along the way learning this!) and respect for us and whoever else might be involved in the conversation we are in.
When they blurt it out or grow impatient and interrupt...depending on the attitude behind it...we either spank them or tell them that they will need to come back in 5 minutes and try it again, respectfully. Plus, they have to apologize to all who were interrupted by their outburst.
Maybe this all seems a bit strict..but with 4 kids...there would be constant interruptions and impatience if we did not "give them a way out" through this process! :)
Hope my rambling made sense!
And no... I don't think what you guys are doing seems a bit strict at all (not in the negative sense, anyway). We need to have boundaries and strive for order in our homes, and the consequences you mentioned sound very appropriate.
(I couldn't help but thinking what a "with-it" classroom teacher you would make, with regard to classroom management!)
Thanks again for sharing! I totally appreciate it!