Monday, December 03, 2007

Disruptions of Balance



"Everybody today seems to be in such a terrible rush, anxious for greater developments and greater riches and so on, so that children have very little time for their parents. Parents have very little time for each other, and in the home begins the disruption of peace of the world. "

~ Mother Teresa


I've had this quote saved in my drafts for a long time. It spoke huge amounts of truth when I read it and knew that at some point, I would actually get a chance to write on it a little bit. Being that we're into December, it seemed like a very fitting time to write this post.

I find it amazing that you can tell the month has changed around this time of year. I had to go to the store for some staples this weekend and it was a zoo. If we hadn't have really needed the milk and food, I probably would have fled the building as fast as I could, because it just brings this awful, overwhelming feeling into my body.

But the sad reality is that life is a whole lot busier now than it ever was when I was growing up as a kid. I've been taking time to reflect on this and figure out why. As a family, we're continually working on seeing whether or not we are over-committed, and that at the end of the week, we are keeping God and our family the number priority of our household.

I think in this day and age, that has to be a huge priority of families. When our family gets 'dysfunctional', we look at our balance, because 9 times out of 10, we've not seen each other at all and haven't been home long enough to enjoy the safe haven of our home and the love of our family. And it's very true...if there's not peace at home, then there's not going to be peace in your life and therefore you'll take that lack of peace out into the world.

We continue to speak with our children about the fact there's lots of activities they'd probably love to be in, but you need to have balance in your life and it's never to late to begin that discipline. They are realizing that you need the quiet of those four walls called home...you need the joy and laughter of supper around the table, games played together, cuddling on the couch with popcorn to watch a movie as a family. Those things are all just as important as learning piano, taking swimming, spending time with friends.

The hardest truth as a parent is realizing you might not be always modelling what you're teaching. That's the goal I'm working on the hardest right now. Examining and reflecting on where my time takes me...how that time is allocated out and whether or not it's the correct balance for God, myself and my family.

3 comments:

Real World Martha said...

I try for a simple life but it seems very difficult in the city. I long for the small town life again but God has not placed us there. I guess He wants us here for now.
Blessings,
Debbie aka The Real World Martha (S)
http://realworldmartha.wordpress.com

Corry said...

I love this post!
I know what you mean. Sometimes life is like a roller-coaster, but we are the ones that make and allow it that way.

(((HUGS)))

God's Grace.

audrey` said...

Dearest Jay

It's so true.
We need to balance our lives.
We need to set our priorities right.
Most often it's easier said than done.

Take care.