My To-Do List

I sat reflecting on my day. My to-do list:

1. Take the boys to Musik Garten. Check.
2. Unload dishwasher. Check.
3. Load it back. Check.
4. Generally, clean kitchen. Check.
5. Start and finish a load of laundry. Check.
6. Fold all clothes piled on couch. Check.
7. Sort boys’ closet, boxing up all 12-month clothes.  Check.
8. Clean table in preparation for dinner. Check.
9. Cook dinner (a new goal of mine.) Check. And it was good…check, check!
10. Boys bathed. Devotions read. Both in bed fast asleep. Ahhhh…check.

Wow! For someone that meets the challenge of housework with the enthusiasm that one faces a colonoscopy, I was fairly impressed with the days’ accomplishments. So why couldn’t I shake the feeling that something was missing. “Lord, why do I feel like such a failure tonight?” I prayed, hoping He’d reveal the mystery.

I hear a soft whisper. Relationship. I didn’t get it. I’d started the day with Him. “God, did I not do enough? Did I not give enough time to you? Are you asking for more?” I went to bed frustrated and unsatisfied.

The next morning as I read through chapter four of Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World (this week’s Bible study from the Bible Café for Women), I found my answer.

But regardless of our temperament, regardless of our emotional preference, we are all called to intimacy with God….Just come as you are. As a child of God. Children, after all, love intimacy. (pp. 60-61)

Children. My children. Salem and Elijah.

Again, I looked at yesterday’s list, and my spirit is grieved. I started my day with them, and I ended my day with them, but where were they in between? They were around. I tended their needs. But I did little to build relationship with them. I did nothing to promote intimacy. I wonder as an adult how much they’ll care about my to-do list.

I take out today’s list and start over.

1. Time with God. Check.
2. Build intimacy with family….

I hear the sounds of Salem’s sweet morning babbles from down the hall, and I’m off to work on today’s list. 

 

1. His renewed mercies.
2. He did the grocery shopping.
3. Napping babies
4. A night cap
5. Available friends
6. Streaming church services
7. Coffee
8. He enjoys coffee, too.
9. Fried chicken
10. Good family
11. Loose definitions
12. Laughter
13. Pack in plays
14. Structure
15. Flexibility
16. My Mr. Fix It
17. Hand-me-downs
18. Watermelon & fruit dip
19. That adorable smile
20. That he tries to laugh even with tears streaming down his face.