It is rare that I have an hour alone (with my eyes open) let alone four. But a recent airline flight afforded me the opportunity to have four hours alone; no phone, internet, or television, just me. (Well just me and my iPod, I don’t do silence)
It got me thinking about time and how it is a commodity just like money. Often we focus on the things in our life we can touch – money, food, cars, stuff. We think a lot about how to better manage our money, how to eat better, how to get better gas mileage, or how to organize the school books.
I think we don’t spend a lot of time considering how we invest our time. I know for me, many times I wake up and there is already a crisis in my house. Someone has wet the bed, thrown up, or dropped a gallon of milk on the kitchen floor. Sometimes it feels like you put on your armor and jump into battle every morning.
As I sat on the flight, alone, I realized I want to be more intentional with my time. What is most important to me? For me it is:
- Faith
- Husband
- Kids
- Family
- Homeschool
- Friends
- Church
Do my days reflect my priorities? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. I have found that if my priorities get mixed up my days don’t go very well. Whenever I try to put something first that shouldn’t be the day falls apart.
Twenty years from now what time investments will have big returns? My portfolio needs an adjustment, how about yours?
Ashley Shulski says
Hi Toni,
My church’s lesson this week was on distractions and how we all fall into the “Squirrel!!” distraction where we allow Satan to come into our lives, even without knowing, and refocus us so that we are distracted by what truly matters: putting it all up for God to handle and give back to us when we are ready to have/handle it. Think about what is truly significant and successful for us when we refocus ourselves in a straight and narrow walk with our Lord Savior makes us realize we do not need to allow the “Squirrels!!” in our lives any longer…..just God and from there we have all we need in our lives to be successful and happy.
Blessings,
Ash
TheHappyHousewife says
Wow what a great lesson! Thanks for passing that along. 🙂
Toni
Southern Gal says
Trying to catch up a little. I love this reminder. Now onto my day. How will I spend it?
Candi says
So true…so true!! I rarely complete a day where I feel like I have kept my priorities in check. It’s tough to do, but maybe I just need to be more aware, thanks for the reminder! Nice blog!
The Happier Husband says
I’ve been thinking of the same things lately.
One thing that strikes me as important and different about time versus money is that you can probably get a second job to make more money or buy less expensive items to save money but time pays no mind to what you do. We lose our mortal time no matter how we try to spend or save it.
I’m trying to ask myself everyday “What can I do today that will have eternal effects?” It is so easy (and I do it so often) to get distracted with the fleeting and temporal – Life is more than the now.
So, once again, What can I do today that will have eternal effects?
Love my God
Love my Wife
Love my Children
Love my Family
Love the people God sends my way
There you have my list. Now to put my pride and selfishness behind me and make that list matter for eternity.
THH
Serenity says
Thanks for the reminder. Since the new baby I have been struggling to stay on top of housework, cooking and laundry. To stay on top of these things while “wearing” a 7 week old, I haven’t had as much time for bible study or my other kiddos. This weekend I am going to do my bible study first, play with my kiddos second and clean and cook third. We might end up eating PB and J’s and wearing our clothes twice but who cares!!!!
Cherrill says
Thanks Toni you just had me think about my own portfolio, our baby is now 11 in March we took in 3 children (my neices children) some days are definitely started with armor. I’m a quiet to yourself person first thing in the morning, however since our household has increased with an 8yr,6yr & 9 mo. old I rarely get that quiet time so we truck on making the best and now I will now make the changes I need to and do things a little differently after reading this, you’ve been such an inspiration and God send thank you so much for allowing the Lord to use you in such a wonderful way.
Cherrill
Tabby says
Agreeing with all of the above, but also….giggling about the ‘I don’t do silence’ bit. You and me both, girl–we’re too used to our ‘background noise’ aka kids, huh?
Amy @ MomsToolbox says
At a quick solo getaway pondering exactly that.
I want to leave here ready to make a few changes so I can get closer to spending my time where I want to spend it… not where I get pulled.
Michelle says
Wonderful, thought provoking post. I think as we live life, we really do forget that time itself is an investment. I caught myself the other day getting annoyed at DD for cutting into “my” time. But really, time with her will pay far more “dividends” in the long run than whatever I was doing in that moment. Thanks for helping to realign my thought process.
Jenny @ Life After Yes says
So very true. As much as I would like to think my day to day actions reflect my “list” all the time they definitely do not. It’s something I need to work on more. Great post and I hope your having a great trip.
Mariesa M. says
That is soo true. I heard once that how we spend our time shows us what is important to us. I know that sounds like a “no duh” comment, but when you think about it it’s kinda profound. Thanks for the post – it reminded me to get off the computer and go play with my kid, because they are more important to me than the computer. 🙂
PrairieWindDesigns says
This is a very thought provoking post! Thank You!
Tonya says
I’ve been more intentional about deeper Bible study in the MORNINGS rather than later in the day over the last few weeks. My goal is to keep it up during the school year. Easier for me than you since I have older kids (who sleep later) rather than younger ones who get up when the sun shines into their rooms (and sometimes before that). In fact, off to study now. 🙂
Mindy says
I agree with the mornings! I’m not really a morning person, but I find that if I don’t study before everything else (except maybe a shower and some coffee 🙂 ), life starts happening, and it gets pushed aside. I also have something to reflect on and be prepared about during the day versus if I read at night and think, “Man, that happened to me today! Why didn’t I read that earlier??!”.
Kim says
So true. Great post. I have been pondering about this very issue lately.