When our children were teens, my oldest said he wanted to play basketball. We had moved to the country and were home focused. We have a basketball hoop out in the back yard. Yes, it has a dirt ‘court’ but to my thinking, if he really wanted to play basketball then he’d be outside playing and I told him just that.

He went outside and played for a very short time and came back inside. I knew if it was something that God wanted him to do, and something he really had a strong desire to do, he’d be out there practicing, either early in the morning before it got hot or in the evening after it cooled off in the summer. I was willing to put in the time and money needed if he showed it to be a strong desire but I was not willing to do so if he only wanted to play for socialization. I did NOT need to be that busy and spend that much money because he wanted to hang with friends.

I encourage you to take a look at the extra curricular things you and your children are considering for the new school year and determine if they are something God wants for them or if the activities are simply good things to do but not really necessary or really profitable for each child.

I read this article recently that had some good points about busyness and such. Much of the busyness is our own making and we put added stress on ourselves by rushing around getting places. It is a good article but there are a few unnecessary words; just needed to warn you. One point he brings out is that people (including himself) are busy because they are afraid of being alone with themselves. Fortunately I am not like that, I enjoy peace and rest and even my alone time. The end of the article is really good!

I hope this encourages you today to take a fresh look at your commitments, pray about them, and following God’s leading as to which ones are important to keep and which ones, although good, are adding undo busyness to your lives.

Until next time, God bless,

Michele ºÜº