Several weeks ago I posted a comment on facebook stating that something in my life had to go. I was splintered and frustrated and felt like I wasn’t doing anything well. This blog is my answer to that and, maybe if you feel that way, a next step for you.
A little backstory—My summer has been crazy. (Let’s do bullet points to save time.)
• Two young adult daughters—One moved back home for before heading off to college. The contents of her house are now in our house. The relationship can be challenging. The other daughter will also leave for college in about ten days. She, too, can be challenging.
• Sixteen year-old daughter—She’s not challenging, but I have tried to be available to spend time with her as much as possible this year. We have been training for her tennis tryouts this week. Translated—I have been playing tennis like a mad woman—something I haven’t done in about 30 years.
• Being there—I have tried to be available to all the girls this summer which meant helping them, hanging out with them, and sometimes just waiting for them. I didn’t want to miss one minute of our summer.
• Having friends over—We have hosted friends (ours and theirs) several times this summer.
• Ministry events—These required prep and travel time.
• Writing—I’m trying to start another book with a deadline running headlong at me.
I’m sure your summer has been just as full and crazy. Summer is a time to enjoy so many fun opportunities and catch up on relationships and all this needs to fit into an already full calendar.
As you may have noticed, I have not blogged for a while. It has been a monkey on my back. I love writing to you, but honestly it did not make my top five priorities and thus did not make the cut for how I spent my summer. Marketing experts insist authors need to meet the needs of their readers. But really, this summer was not about my readers—at least not on my blog. As I said I have been speaking and working on my next book. That was for my readers. Not blogging totally went against common wisdom, but it had to go so I tend to the important stuff this summer.
So what is in your crazy life now that the popular culture is telling you must stay, but you know it has to go—at least for now. I always challenge women to figure out their priorities then compare their schedule to their priorities. I challenge you to do the same. Does your schedule testify to what you say are your priorities? If not, get with the Lord and see what needs to go.
All too soon the girls will be away and at school. Friends will be back home. The house will be silent and I will have all day to write. The crazy summer will be over, but I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.