Finding Balance

Life is about balance. We all have busy lives and very full plates now-a-days.

Sometimes the busy-ness can be overwhelming. It can rob us of our joy and our peace.

To keep the necessary in place we need to find what is balance for our lives.

What are the most important things in your life?

For me, it is absolutely The Lord and my family. Those are my tops.

Without those two, everything else would be fruitless. 

But what next?

Our work in the church, our home, our homeschool, our little farm, friendships…

All those things come into play.

I know for many of you, you have work, clubs, and sports too.

It can become very taxing and it just plain leads to burnout.

I don’t believe the Lord wants you to be burned out.

I believe He wants Mom’s who are filled with JOY! Ones that smile around their children, who can laugh and take time for fun and silliness once in a while. 

Family.

Take time for your family…

Our times together don’t have to be going here or there either, it can just be time together. Have a cup of hot cocoa with one of your kids and talk about what’s going on with them. Do a lot of listening. It really is amazing what all they have to say. Times with your kids are fleeting. Don’t trade them away for selfish reasons. Have special moments with them. Take them to the creek, let them wade, examine rocks and tadpoles and algae… Go for a walk outside or a bike ride!

Don’t forget about your spouse either!

Make a point to occasionally let this kids have an early supper and bedtime, spend a quiet evening with your spouse. Make a special dessert or go outside for a walk. Sit on the porch and look at the stars. Make opportunities. 

Church. 

Church is very important to our family. Going to our place of worship, gathering with other believers worshipping the Lord is so important. We need that support from our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. I’ve said before, if Jesus made a point to go to church, and the Bible says we should go… I should be there every time the doors are open. *wink* *wink*

Friendship.

Do you take time to have a friend over… or do you take the time to accept an invitation to go visit with someone you love? Make the time. 

Really.

Time is something we will never get back.

You will never regret those sweet moments you take with those you love.

Now, there are times all people want to do is go-go-go… that’s not balance. 

Balance is key.

Then there are the things that HAVE to be done.

Work

Cleaning

School

Etc.

Do them, but don’t become them.

We want to do the best we can do at everything we do… or at least I do,
 but it is very easy to let things become the MOST important.

They aren’t.

Do a great job if you work outside the home. But when you come home, come FULLY home. Be the parent your children need. Be the spouse your mate needs. Love them, and love them more.

Cleaning, I like a tidy home. But if I am over-obsessing about the cleanliness of my home and not thinking about my family or not wanting to let them do anything in the home because they might mess things up… I am in the wrong! Teach them to clean with you.
Don’t be a tyrant. Give them chores.

Let them help you…

You can have a somewhat tidy home and a happy family too. 

School.

As a homeschool Mom, I go in waves. I stress and obsess about doing everything JUST right, making sure that things are perfect. That we are working beyond our expectations and I stress everyone out. School IS important, school is needful, but don’t make it an idol.
Education is good, but don’t let it become your god. 

Sports.

My family enjoys sports. We started out playing them when the kids were younger. We were in several activities as well. It got to the point to where we were never home. I want my kids to enjoy time at home. I want to have time to cook meals for them. To play games or garden or go for a swim. 

Sports are good, but don’t let them become your idol.

Don’t sacrifice your family for the sake of playing every sport out there, or keep your kids so busy in sports that they completely get burned out. 

Keep the balance!

Family management is tough. Finding balance isn’t easy, but I think as we do, we find peace.

I am seeing that as I get older, the more I wish I could go back and redo. 

I don’t want to see that at the end of my life. I want to see that I did what was needful and what was good and that we found balance…. in everything.