That Sinking Feeling

The car needs gas.

The kids need baths.

Your boss called, that’s weird you didn’t even hear your phone ring.

The stack of bills on the counter got knocked off and now they are all out of order.

The doctor’s office called.  Your appointment was yesterday.  They rescheduled for six weeks from now, and charged you $35 for the missed appointment.

By the way, the debit card did not want to work at the grocery store today.  They called the manager over and she had to use a plastic bag to make it read.

Practice is from six to seven so if we leave immediately you should only be 23 minutes late for dinner with your in-laws.  Your father-in-law is going to love that.

You did go to the ATM, right?  The restaurant is cash only.

Some guy called about the part for the washer.  He said it will be another week.

Did you hear the noise the brakes are making?

Some guy you never met is in your daughter’s profile picture.

Do not even look at your son’s report card before leaving for dinner.

If you don’t get a deposit on the cabin this week, there will be no vacation.  Sure you don’t get paid till Monday, but maybe you can make the vacation deposit after 5 on Friday and it won’t clear the bank until midnight Monday.  Monday’s a holiday?  Oh how is that going effect when this stuff will clear?

The grass needs cut.  The neighbor still has the mower.

Life gets done one thing at a time.

Oh and we need to sit down as a family like Pastor Conley suggested and go over our weekly schedule so we can “possess our time” in a way that brings glory to God.

…..  I know…. I know…  All of those seem like real life except for the last one.  I get it.  Life is crazy, and in all this craziness, how in the world do I ever get it all done?  At the risk of sounding repetitive, I will go back to yesterday’s mantra.  Life gets done one thing at a time.

Sometimes life can be overwhelming.  It’s in those moments when there are so many things to do and no clear place to start that we begin to suffer from being overwhelmed by not any one thing, but by the flood of small things.  You have probably experienced that feeling of being overrun by multiple challenges or situations requiring attention arise at seemingly the same time.

So what do you do in that moment?  You have to determine what matters most and start there.  Whatever you do, don’t let the urgent cause you to lose sight of the important.  In fact sometimes it would be good to do nothing but sit down and make a list of all the “tasks” that you have ahead of you.  Then pick out the two or three that are most important.  Then, go a step further and number those in order of importance.

Now, you have a plan.  Attack those three most important tasks.  One. At. A. Time.  Then move on to the other things.  Now you aren’t being pushed by the wave of pressures.  You are controlling your outcome by acknowledging what really matters and accomplishing things in an orderly fashion.

And remember, no matter how overwhelming the day may seem…  You are still God’s child, and no matter how big the Flood, He’s got you!

 “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind.  For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things.  But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.”  –Luke 12:29–31 (NKJV)

See, it’s settled.  This stuff is not going to take you out.  So make your list.  Acknowledge what really matters, and start accomplishing things one at a time.  He’s Got You, and You’ve Got This!