Jenny's comment on my Why 50s Housewife? post got me to thinking about priorities. She mentioned all her volunteer activities. I too am a "chronic over-volunteerer" (like my new word?). Is there such a thing as volunteers anonymous? :)
I volunteer at my children's schools, my church , and with several troop support organizations. None of these are bad things. In fact, they are ALL very good things. But are they the things that God wants me to be doing?
I recently re-read Lies Women Believe by Nancy Leigh DeMoss and one of those lies is "I don't have time to do everything I'm supposed to do." I have felt this way many, many times when my volunteer activities start to clash with my responsibilities at home. How can I decorate for the church Thanksgiving Dinner, cook 2 dishes for that dinner, help with the science fair at school, help with the military care pack donations, and buy items for Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes all this week along with taking care of my home and family, let alone spend any time in the Word? I have (yet again) let my priorities get out of whack. I have been called to be a wife, mom and homemaker and that is more important than any of these.
The fact is that I have taken on responsibilities that are not on God's "to do list" for me, they are on MY "to do list". I have been believing that lie this month. I have believed that just because I saw something that needed to be done and no one else volunteered to do it that I had to do it. Much to my dismay, it is all too easy for me to let volunteer activities come before my Lord, my husband, my children, and my home. I'm not quite to that point yet, but I will be if I continue on this path. I don't want to neglect the most important mission field that is right under my nose. That doesn't mean I won't volunteer at all, but I will pray AND talk to my husband before I agree to take on anything else.
Lord, help me do what is pleasing to You and seek Your plans for my life, not my own. Show me how to weed out unnecessary activities and seek You first. Make my home a home that glorifies You. In Jesus' name. Amen.
"But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised."
Proverbs 31:30b
I love the way you express "God's to do list" verses "My to do list".
ReplyDeleteSo glad that we can inspire and encourage each other with such wonderful insights. I am so ready to give up "my to do list" and Work on God's to do list.
What a beautiful prayer. Amen
Unfortunately people tend to think that homemakers have all this extra time because we 'just stay home'. I think we then end up succumbing to pressure to volunteer for everything.
ReplyDeleteLOL we currently only have one car and that keeps me close to home and I really like it. I also gives me a valid excuse (in other's eyes) to kindly but firmly say 'no'.
Blessings,
~Mrs.B
Love this post!
ReplyDelete