Choices

Choices.

Wonderful, and overwhelming.

When everything is important, then nothing is important.

Have you opened a magazine lately?  Turned on your computer?

Find your mom style.

Read to your children every day.

Rebalance your investment portfolio.

Eat meat.  Don't eat meat.  Don't eat processed meat.  Eat more meat.

Make time for that morning workout.

Sport brings out the confidence in your kid.

The lining of your can of tomatoes can make you sick.

Plan a weekend away with your husband.

Make sure you photograph those special moments.

Take time for coffee with a friend.

....

Is anyone else overwhelmed?  Does anyone else have crusted toothpaste in the sink and peanut butter smudges on the window and piles of insurance claims waiting for follow up?   

How do you choose what's most important?

Maybe it's food.  Maybe you like to cook from scratch.  Maybe you feel strongly about additives and processed food.  Maybe you like to set the table and use glass dishes and eat together as a family.  That means you have setup and clean up and need to be on top of grocery lists, shopping, and prep work.  Time.

Maybe it's sports.  Maybe you value the discipline and leadership skills that sports can offer. Maybe you love to cheer your kids from the sidelines or volunteer to coach a team.  That means you have to take the time for practices, games, transit time, and the cost of equipment and uniforms.  Time.

Maybe it's personal fitness.  Maybe you're a gym rat.  Maybe you feel more complete when you get your endorphins running.  That means you either exercise before or after work or at lunch.  Or that means you're at the gym instead of running errands.  Or you put your baby in childcare 5 hours a week so you can exercise.  Maybe that means you skip breakfast with kids so you can work in a run.  Time.

When everything is important, then nothing is important.

I am foolish enough to ride this crazy train too frequently.  Even when I know the lie.

You. Can't. Have. It. All.

You. Can't. Do. It. All.

The false beliefs slither through my mind like a snake.

If I just work hard enough...

If I just prioritize better...

If I can just figure out the most efficient way...

...

There are 24 hours in a day.  Everyone gets them.  Some of us have 6 loads of laundry piled so we can spend several days a week at soccer practice.  Some of us spend several hours a week chopping vegetables so we can pack healthier lunches.  Some of us will serve the kids cereal for dinner so we can have an uninterrupted conversation with our spouse.  Some of us will put the kids to bed way too late so we can finish reading A Wrinkle in Time together. Some of us will say yes to a job promotion that requires us to move our families.  Some of us will homeschool and struggle with keeping everything going.  Some of us will say yes to fast food on a road trip because it's just easier sometimes.

Some of us will sit in the early hours of the morning and ask God for guidance.

Because I can't do it alone.  Been there.  Tried it.  Failed miserably.

And when I seek Him, He is faithful.  

And I am hopeful.