Finding yourself huffing and puffing as you juggle this end-of-the-school-year season? Read on as Alexandra Kuykendall nudges us to love our "actual lives!"
Elisa
Spring Juggling Guide
By Alexandra Kuykendall
It's the spring juggling season - end of the sports season, appreciation for teachers and coaches, final dances and this particular year graduation festivities, which means my calendar is full to the max.
I know there are all kinds of strategies for paring down commitments. Typically I'm as bare bones as a mother of four girls, (soccer mom of two, ballet mom of one, preschool mom of one) can be. I don't volunteer at school (besides the mandatory preschool days). As far as church responsibilities, I keep my commitment to teaching the kindergarten Sunday school class two months of the year (no deep theological preparations required). And I try to make time in my schedule for the unpredictable ministry of doing life around my neighbors (because I want to spend that spontaneous fifteen minutes in the driveway catching up on the latest in someone's life, I truly do).
In other words, I work at not being busy. But this time of year there are the extras upon the extras that I can't opt out of. And I am tired. I have no scheduling tricks up my sleeves, just my tissues on the ready for the preschool/elementary school/middle school graduation ceremonies on this month's calendar. Yes, this is the summer of change at our house. Which you can imagine makes for high emotions among all of us girls.
I am down to the basics here as far as survival goes: God and grit.
When I take a moment to reflect on God's Word, I hear Paul tell me "Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don't be impressed with yourself. Don't compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life." Galatians 6:4-5 (The Message)
Wait you mean get 'er done? Don't complain? Take responsibility for this life (and these commitments) and charge ahead? Because this season, with all of its unique crazy, is indeed the life God has given ME? And it's up to me to make the most of it?!
I am not advocating over scheduling here. Just the opposite is true. But sometimes we must take these gifts God has given us, albeit exhausting at times, and embrace them. No whining that I have so many healthy children who are moving ahead in school. No complaining that there are dedicated teachers and coaches that must be thanked. Nope. My job is to do the thanking right now. Of the teachers, yes, but more importantly of my Creator who has given me an over abundance of reasons to be alive.
That "creative best" that Paul mentions, that's what I must mine in order to find the glorious way that it will get done. In my circumstances, my family, my way. And then I'm not just surviving this juggling exercise, I'm relishing it.
Alexandra Kuykendall survives May on the sidelines of Colorado's soccer fields. She is the author of Loving My Actual Life: An Experiment in Relishing What's Right in Front of Me. Connect with her at AlexandraKuykendall.com.