Time ....

I've been wrestling lately with time management. This is an old battle which rears its head every so often and I'm still not sure how to win it. It especially plagues me when the new year comes around as it is always on the top of my resolution list. ie:"This year I will be disciplined in my use of time"

The way I see it, the things I fill my time with can be grouped in 3 categories.

First there are the things that have to be done or they visibly pile up and seriously disturb my peace. They are my responsiblity at this time in my life.

Things like:

• making meals
• washing dishes
• keeping ahead of the dust and clutter in the house- there's always something that needs doing to keep the space we live in comfortable and inviting
• loads of laundry (I still do Harv's laundry - after all he keeps the car maintained for me)
• gardening and yard work
• and of course all the personal maintenance that increases with age
  My work in the office also falls in this category - apparently I get paid for this (at least that's what the accountant tells me) - I mostly enjoy this - it's good to be involved in our business.
• paying bills
• sending out invoices
• keeping records
• banking and filing, etc.

The next category could be titled "things I really need to do but don't always make a priority" Things like:

• exercising or walking
• reading my Bible
• visiting the elderly and shut in
• reading to learn and enlarge my mind
• gardening (this definately falls in more than one category)
• entertaining and cooking for friends (another 2 category item)

Then there are the "Things I want to do" category. These are the kinds of things I am always stealing time from the other categories for and then feeling guilty about.

• card making
• spending time with kids and grandkids (this is guilt free fun- and becomes my top priority each time they come over)
• scrapbooking
• sorting through pictures and negatives so I have something to scrapbook!
• entertaining and cooking for friends
• on line stuff - blogging, reading blogs, emailing
• reading for pure entertainment
• having coffee/lunch with friends
• shopping and bumbering with friends
• holidaying, motorcycling and boating with Harv
• watching a movie ( very low on the list but still there)

This year I decided to try to take Thursdays for this last category. My reasoning is that I may never have guilt free time to tackle this list if I don't dedicate time to it.

But then I remember that my time is not my own. God has given me a set amount of time, just as He has everyone else and my priority should be doing what He calls me to do.

I'm afraid I don't always listen and obey and perhaps that is why I have this ongoing battle with time.

I am grateful that God is not a joyless slave driver -

He created us with talents and desires;

instilled in us the need for work and play;

the ability to give our job our all out effort

and the ability to lay back and enjoy our rest;

the fortitude for self sacrifice and the abandonment to pure pleasure.

Lord, be my time manager.
Direct me to the activities that most honour and glorify You.
Fill my hours and minutes with worthwhile things.
Give me satisfaction in hard work,
perserverance in mundane tasks,
and delight in play and creativity.
Keep me committed to making time for relationships
with You - first and foremost,
with my family and friends,
and with those You bring across my path.
I place my time in Your hands Lord.