Have you invited slothfulness into your home?  Is the time to tackle those projects always tomorrow, next week or next month?  Do your children know the value of a hard day’s work and a job well done?   Is the start time on your schedule so gray that you often don’t achieve even the basics of a well rounded education?  

American Heritage Dictionary defines slothfulness as a person, “Disinclined to work or exertion; lazy.”  There are not many of us that want to be defined as lazy but are results are in.  Forget looking for the proof in the pudding because the pudding is only on the “to do” list and hasn’t even begun to be made.

I wonder often what is to become of this once very hard working nation.  The American dream seems to be no more than to sit and watch that big screen T.V.  I recently came across a letter on the web, written by Thomas Jefferson to his daughter, eleven year old Patsy.   In that letter he has given his daughter a strict schedule to follow each day.  I was struck by the amount of time devoted to each task.

From 8. to 10. o'clock practice music.
From 10. to 1. dance one day and draw another.
From 1. to 2. draw on the day you dance, and write a letter next day.
From 3. to 4. read French.
From 4. to 5. exercise yourself in music.
From 5. till bedtime, read English, write, &c.

 I have trouble getting my daughter to practice her piano 30 minutes, 5 days a week, let alone two hours and notice that she is to also exercise herself in music from 4 to 5.   He goes on to say that she is to say,
“ write me by every post. Inform me what books you read, what tunes you learn, and enclose me your best copy of every lesson in drawing.  Write also one letter a week either to your Aunt Eppes, your Aunt Skipworth, your Aunt Carr, or the little lady from whom I now enclose a letter.”

 My point is not to model ourselves after Jefferson’s daughters schedule but is for us to look and see that there was a reason for the achievements of our forefathers.

As a nation our obesity rates are astronomical.  Instead of watching what we eat and exercising, we try looking for that fountain of youth in a bottle of supplements.  We fail to recognize that the healthy people on this earth spend time walking and working hard every day.  

In education, the test scores of the subjects of math and science are dismal and we are having to import our scientists, mathematicians and doctors.  So not to hurt our children's feelings their curriculum and tests have been dumbed down and we don't dare tell them that they aren't performing up to snuff.   

 What will our children have to offer this world?  Will they be well prepared to make an impact, a difference?  If God needs them to do his work will they listen to the call or be too lazy to even begin?   For that matter what impact have you made? 

 It’s time to no longer invite slothfulness into our homes.  We need to expect more from ourselves and our children.  The truth of the matter is that they are only taking our lead.  It is time to turn off that television or that compute and to get to work!  We can make a difference for our children, our friends, our neighbors, our churches, our communities, and ultimately our world !