Balancing Resources
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Just me on Thursday, December 04, 2008 3:44 PM
Our discussion on my frugality post from last week has me thinking about resources.
It’s easy to talk about money because it’s concrete, but there are other resources that are just as important for completing the tasks of our daily lives, like time and energy.
Psalm 127 says,
In vain is your earlier rising, your going later to rest, you who toil for the bread you eat, when he pours gifts on his beloved while they slumber. (verse 2)
I bet I’m not the only mother who struggles with balance. I want to serve the Lord by completing all the tasks of my vocation to the best of my ability. But I also want to obey his command to rest, and I know that I hear and respond to him better when I’m not a stressed-out mess.
And there are so many factors at play. I can choose to stay awake and work while Camilla takes her nap and thus have the house in better order when my husband gets home, or I can nap with her and greet him with a messier house but a happier mood. Which does he prefer? Which one makes me more productive in the long run? What are my motivations, and which is the most unselfish option? It’s a constant balancing act.
There are no easy answers but I’ve found that the most consistently helpful approach is to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit. No surprise there.
When I manage to take time to build prayer into my daily life, the answers to my balancing questions come more easily. Or, even better, I’ll get to the end of a busy day and actually feel like I’ve used my time and energy well. Those are the days when I realize that God has been holding my hand the entire time!
I’m curious about ways that other moms manage and conserve their time and energy. What are the biggest drains on your resources? Besides prayer, have you found other helpful ways to deal with your balancing act that the rest of us might find useful? I found last week’s conversation very interesting - let’s continue it!
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