September through May time has schedule and organization. The rhythm and routine are reliable, though also restraining.
As June began, the blank space on the calendar gave an illusion of more time. We took family trips. I joined two Bible studies because I wasn’t leading one. I justified late nights (the sun’s up, why not me?).
I have overspent my time budget. The reality is there are still only 24 hours in a day, seven days in a week, and at best 31 days in a month.
A dear friend pointed out to me last week the tendency we can have to overspend our time because it appears we now have so much more of it. However, since God made time it has been the same:
“And God said, ‘Let there be light,’…God called the light ‘day’ and the darkness He called ‘night.’ And there was evening, and there was morning–the first day,” (Genesis 1:3-5).
No wonder I’m feeling a little worn-out as July begins.
Have you been overspending your time this summer? How do you manage free-time?
I like the flexibility of summer, but I now intend to let the rest of this season be one of simplicity. I want rest and true rejuvination for my family and myself.
Whether its time or money, overspending is fun momentarily but challenging to pay for later. I have an evening, a morning. A day. May I live not foolishly, but fully.
God, be glorified in every minute. Thank You for rest, for fun, and for summer.
Photo credit: Myron Schaffer
An excellent reminder, Sara. I, too, try to get more in because of the extra daylight hours. In fact this week was about “adding more in” so maybe I’ll kick back and temper that a little. Thank you, thank you! You have such a magnificent way of sharing God’s message in a way that reaches me. So appreciated.
It’s an effort to keep things simple, but I’m now tired enough to kick back as well! Glad this spoke to you.
Sara,
I definitely find myself in the same boat! I’ve been thinking about and praying for your family a lot lately. I have almost picked up the phone several times, but I feel funny about calling when it’s been so long!
Take care of yourself and get some rest. I’ll try to do the same!
Jennifer
Funny how time “apart” does that. Please feel free to call. I’m serious about slowing things down, and should be more available for chats! I think of you often–especially as the school year approaches. For now, hugs and love from CO to you, friend!
It is helpful to see “time as a measure of eternity, too long for those who wait but too short for those who need”. For us faithful believers, present and future, eternity is here and now … and eternity is forever!
The problem of “not having enough time” is really an issue of priority or attending to first things first. Eternity is set in our being together with the desire to achieve the Purpose set by our Creator. To resolve our emotive reaction to time and not be time-watcher and calendar-tied, it is helpful to set right priority based on right purposes. Predetermined first-things-first must be personal and worthwhile to measure our success in achievements.
What savings in time when we do what need to be done, when we are motivated by right priority! And we communicate well with who we are (character) and our words tend to express and confirm our priority and motivation. Eternity will never be boring and will surely be fruitful!