Willing to Rearrange
I'm what you might call a creature of habit. One whose routines run fairly deep.
I walk the same route every day. At roughly the same time every day. I always take a shower in the evenings. At roughly the same time every evening. I even find myself using the same cereal bowl and coffee mug. At roughly the same time every morning.
Some things, I don't mind shaking up. If I use a different coffee mug, I'm not disturbed. If I shower earlier or later than is typical, no big deal. But that morning walk? It's just not the same in the afternoon or evening. I suppose it's partly due to the fact that mid-morning is a convenient time in my little boy and I's schedule to go for a walk. It's also probably partly due to the fact that it's the time I've walked nearly every day for the past two years. And honestly, it's probably due to the simple fact that I like to walk at that time of day.
And I think some of my stubbornness in regards to my morning walk has a part to play in that. Because I allow that time - that mid-morning time slot - to be devoted to our walk. And our walk only.
When it could be a time - one morning a week, or even one morning a month - that I am investing time to grow spiritually. Attending a Bible study. Challenging myself. Digging deeper in the Word.
But all too often, I've said "no" to certain activities, certain opportunities for growth, certain times of fellowship, simply because it'd mess with our daily routine. Because it'd cause me to readjust our daily routine. Yes, routine is good for little ones. Consistency is important. But so is my relationship with the Lord.
So, I've decided some things need to change. For the sake of my relationship with the LORD. And for the sake of those I am influencing.
I walk the same route every day. At roughly the same time every day. I always take a shower in the evenings. At roughly the same time every evening. I even find myself using the same cereal bowl and coffee mug. At roughly the same time every morning.
Some things, I don't mind shaking up. If I use a different coffee mug, I'm not disturbed. If I shower earlier or later than is typical, no big deal. But that morning walk? It's just not the same in the afternoon or evening. I suppose it's partly due to the fact that mid-morning is a convenient time in my little boy and I's schedule to go for a walk. It's also probably partly due to the fact that it's the time I've walked nearly every day for the past two years. And honestly, it's probably due to the simple fact that I like to walk at that time of day.
But this past weekend, I realized how easy it is for me to idolize that morning walk.Jordan and I had the opportunity to attend a youth ministry training this past weekend. The training itself involved some flexibility in rearranging that morning walk time slot. What truly struck me, however, was this question:
If I'm honest, not very. I want those I'm investing in and influencing -- my son and soon-to-arrive daughter, my fellow MOPS moms, some of the youth in our church -- to be thriving. Not maintaining. Not complacently limping along.If the everyone I influence develops a relationship with the LORD like the one I have, how spiritually healthy would they be?
And I think some of my stubbornness in regards to my morning walk has a part to play in that. Because I allow that time - that mid-morning time slot - to be devoted to our walk. And our walk only.
When it could be a time - one morning a week, or even one morning a month - that I am investing time to grow spiritually. Attending a Bible study. Challenging myself. Digging deeper in the Word.
But all too often, I've said "no" to certain activities, certain opportunities for growth, certain times of fellowship, simply because it'd mess with our daily routine. Because it'd cause me to readjust our daily routine. Yes, routine is good for little ones. Consistency is important. But so is my relationship with the Lord.
So, I've decided some things need to change. For the sake of my relationship with the LORD. And for the sake of those I am influencing.
And the work begins with my own heart, my own willingness to sacrifice. To rearrange.
"'He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for my sake will find it.'" - Jesus, Matthew 10:37-38, NASB
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