Just let it go...

A couple of you have already asked me about managing time or not bogging yourself down with obligations. This may not be the best advice, and surely not what you would get from a lot of people, but if you feel like housework and chores are keeping you from your family, if at all possible, let it go! Figure out the best time management skill for you and put it to work. Life in my house is a little unpredictable so making a week long schedule will never work. I do things a little more short-term and plan a day at a time.
Let me say first that as a Christian I know that when I start my day with the Lord, it goes a lot better. Pray about your time management. Ask God to help you see priorities, give you the perseverance to get chores done, avoid the temptation of distractions, and spend some time with Him. I am a visual learner, so I love object lessons. Some years ago, I was at a ladies evening at church and a woman talked about time management. She had a quart jar, a bowl of beans, and three objects, I think maybe small blocks. The three objects represented bible reading, prayer, I think church, and the beans represented responsibilities or chores. She began by having us name things we must get done throughout the day, laundry, dishes, cooking. Each time we named one she added a scoop of beans to the jar. After it was full of chores the other stuff would not fit it. She then dumped out all of the beans, put the important stuff in first and the same amount of beans fit perfectly....even got the lid on. Now to some of you, that may be elementary physics, but it obviously impacted me enough that I still remember it. It makes a great point. Start your day of with God, read His word, talk to Him and he will guide the rest of your day...bumps and all!
The beginning of this blog was no way to imply not doing what needs to be done so that you can play all day, but make sure you don't let quality time with your family be replaced with that last bit of dusting that needs to be done, and those supper dishes will be there later. My children are 16 and 13 now and I can tell you it goes by quickly. I already look back and ask myself "did I hold them enough?" "do they have memories of us spending fun time together?" Most of you have probably heard this poem but it is one of my favorites, I will leave you with it:
Cleaning and scrubbing can wait til tomorrow
For babies grow up we've learned to our sorrow
So quiet down cobwebs, dust go to sleep,
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.

Have a blessed day, go rock your baby while I grab a tissue!