Back;on;the;road;again,;Mom;is;realiz-ing that the family is running pretty late,
but she still hopes to arrive at the reunion
before the meal starts. Unfortunately, as
Mom;is;driving;along,;she;realizes;that
the road she thought was the correct one
to;take;her;to;her;cousin’s;house;is;not the
right road, and now Mom is completely
lost.
By;this;time,;the;kids;are;cranky;and
hungry, and Mom is not too pleasant her-self.;After;stopping;to;ask;someone;for;di-rections, Mom turns the car around and
attempts to complete her journey. She is
delayed as a result of road construction
re-routing and waits for a very long train
to pass.
Finally, Mom pulls into her cousin’s
driveway and shoves her potato salad
onto the table just as everyone is starting
to eat. What an adventure!
Mom is totally wiped out and the re-union;hasn’t;even;started.
Then she overhears someone com-ment:;“Oh,;you;know;how;she;is—always
running;late,;but;we;love;her;anyway.”
And everyone is laughing but Mom.
Do any of the parts of that day sound
familiar to you? Have you found yourself
in;situations;like;this?;I;certainly;have,
and I can very much relate to everything
that;Mom;was;going;through.;Let’s;look
at the prepared approach and see how
much smoother the day could go.
Peace!
The;day;starts;with;Mom;looking;for-ward to seeing everyone at her family re-union.;This;year;it;will;be;at;her;cousin’s
house. Mom has the directions printed
and;handy;;one;of;the;kids;will;read;the
directions to her on the way.
Mom;knows;how;much;everyone;en-joys her Chinese noodle salad, and she is
glad that she had found all of the necessary ingredients, including the hard-to-find;ones,;at;her;local;grocery;store;when
she had gone shopping the day before.
The;kids;are;getting;ready;while;Mom
casually tosses into the car the bag that
holds swimming suits, extra play clothes,
and toys in it; she had gathered those
items up the night before. She remembers that her daughter wanted to wear
her;sparkly;dress;today,;so;she;pulls;that
out of the closet for her, and she sees her
son’s;favorite;cap;hanging;on;the;hook;by
the front door and grabs it on the way out
to the car.
As they are heading out of town, Mom
spots a local produce stand where fresh
watermelon is being sold, so she stops to
pick;one;up.;A;friend;from;her;church;is
there also and wants to chat a while, but
Mom politely explains to her friend that
she;is;off;to;a;reunion;as;she;walks;back
to the car—without lingering.
The directions Mom had printed lead
her;right;to;her;cousin’s;house,;and;even
a little delay because of road construction
and;a;train;along;the;way;don’t;matter,
because Mom left the house with time to
spare. Mom carefully sets her dish and
her watermelon on the table and enjoys
some catch-up time with family before
the meal begins. Mom is relaxed and
happy to be there.
It’s Up to You!
Okay, so which day would you rather
have?;Do;you;find;yourself;operating;in
panic;mode;most;of;the;time;and;think:
“That’s;just;me.;I’m;always;late,;and;I;really
can’t;change;that.;Everyone;is;used;to;it.”
Trust me, you can change. I have been
in panic mode way too many times and
now;realize;how;much;better;it;is;to;be
in prepared mode. My whole family suf-
fers;when;I;am;panicked;and;crabby;due
to;my;own;lack;of;planning,;but;when;I
make;a;few;simple;preparations;in;ad-
vance,;we;aren’t;rushed.;Everyone;is;hap-
pier and more relaxed.
If management of your time is an area
you;truly;want;to;improve,;ask;God;for
help.;Ask;Him;to;show;you;ways;you;can
be;more;efficient;with;your;time.
Are you on the computer too much?
Then set a timer for yourself.
Do you try to get too much done before leaving the house? Focus only on
what needs done for that immediate
outing, and leave the rest for later.
We will still have those days when
life throws something unexpected at us,
but the more prepared we are, the less
panicked;we;will;be.;The;choice;is;up
to us!
Christy and her husband, Darin, live in
Pennsylvania with their children, Garrett and Hannah. Christy and Darin feel
that it is an amazing privilege to be able
to teach their children at home. The Acre
family has a home business, Virtues and
Verses, with the purpose of encouraging
families through faith and fun, at www
. virtuesandverses.com. Please stop and
say hi!
www.TheOldSchoolhouse.com
suffers when I am
panicked;.;.;.;.
