Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set the example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity. I Timothy 4:12
Sep. 29, 2009
John 10:10
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
Tonight Dad asked me what I was going to do and I told him I didn’t know. I asked him if there was anything in particular he WANTED me to do and he said, “Enjoy life.” He is a perceptive man, my father. So I got to thinking about it: DO I enjoy life?
Things I enjoy about life – in no particular order
- AIM: service projects, practices, SALTeam meetings, discipleship, presentations… heck, I love everything about AIM.
- Group on Sunday nights. Granted, I’ve not been enjoying it near as much lately since the girls are on the mission trip. However, it’s still nice to take a breather from a long week and hang out with cool people.
- Preparing for the ACT and SAT coming up in October. Strange person that I am, I’ve been greatly enjoying taking the practice tests and I feel like I’ll do pretty well.
- Playing the piano.
- Watching the Cardinals.
- Monday night School of the Bible with Dad up in Springfield. Although this takes a big chunk of what used to be one of my few days at home, I’m still learning a lot and really enjoying the refreshing I get up there.
- Talking with Lori Ann.
- Talking with Katie.
- Mornings and evenings with God outside in the dewy grass.
Things I do not enjoy about life – also in no particular order
- Babysitting at Ms. Gingers’ every Tuesday. This may sound strange, and maybe I’d enjoy it if I didn’t have to do school while I’m there. However, babysitting on a school day just adds more stress to my schedule and makes it hard for me to have fun with the kids I’m babysitting.
- When AIM takes over my life.
- The stress from the fact that I have two big tests (ACT/SAT) coming up.
- The stress from not knowing what I’m doing with my life.
- The stress from having too much to do in the 168 hours in my week. Mom, Dad and I made a chart of everything I spend time on, from sleeping to work to school to AIM, and it ended up that I have 13 hours in my week that are not already designated for some activity. This is not much margin. This is wearing me out.
- The stress from being the only female SALTeam member and one of only two SALT for a team with five new, younger members.
- Long nights that are too short with too many nightmares.
So seems that I’m pretty balanced. I think I need to find more things to enjoy about life; either that or try to get rid of some of the things that I don’t enjoy. I want to enjoy life. Living like this is exhausting. I’m an extremely optimistic person by nature so I find a lot of things to enjoy. However, I’m willing to admit that the four stresses mentioned above (especially the last three) are really wearing on me. Kinda like how wind cuts rock? It takes a looooooooooong time but eventually it crumbles. I’m not going to crumble – I’m determined – but something’s going to have to change.
You are right; 13 hours a week is NOT a margin. But I really can't get on your case because I'm pretty sure I couldn't find even 13 hours...well, maybe if you only slept 4-5 hours per night....hmmmmm.... :P
Thanks for the post which helps me know how to more specifically pray for you. Blessings of peace and rest be yours in abundance. May Jesus grant you clarity to His plans for you.
I'll be remembering / The dark night; the hard fight; the long climb up a hill knowing the cost / The brave death, the last breath, the silence whispering all hope is lost / The thunder, the wonder... the power that brings the dead back to life!
Posted by Anonymous 
Sep. 29, 2009 - Untitled Comment