More On Training: "What's The Plan?"

"Every incomplete promise, commitment and agreement saps your strength, because it blocks your momentum, inhibits your ability to move forward, to progress and improve. Incomplete things keep calling you back to the past to take care of them.” ~ The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson

Last week I shared some thoughts about working to train my kids on the how to's of some basic household chores. Today's post is a follow-up (by request), to give you some thoughts about another area of training we are working on in tandem with the chore training.

This particular activity is something my husband does daily and is great at, while it is something I fully resist but know that I need as part of my daily routine. Naturally, I see the importance of teaching our kids about its value. So what is it that's so simple anyone can do it – but few will take the time to make it part of their daily routine?

Making a list. That's it. Simple, huh?

There is power in making a list. For years, I have tried to convince myself (and my husband) that having a mental list floating around in my head was just as good as a physical, handwritten list. NOT!! Invariably important items get overlooked, forgotten or abandoned altogether on my mental list. I mean, I'm pretty good at keeping up with most things, but it's true – I'm not as productive as I could be and things do have a way of falling through the cracks. By not having a written list to remind me of my priorities for each day it's easy to allow the urgent to overtake the important.

So how does making a list bring me to the quote I've shared above? Why is it so important to me that I would teach it and implement it with my children? I realized this week how not having a daily list of tasks (you might call them priorities or goals), has allowed me to be easily distracted from what needs my attention and focus today. Many times I'm distracted by the tasks I've left incomplete in the past.

The incomplete tasks that got abandoned weren't unimportant at the time they were deleted from my mental list, but somehow they got overwritten by the urgent and then forgotten for a time. Simply stated, what I've left undone in the past renders me less effective in completing what I need to be focused on TODAY because yesterday's work (or last week's – or yes, even things dated 2009!!) keeps calling me back to take care of it.

Teaching my kids to prioritize their day and their tasks is a skill that not only serves a useful purpose now – but also helps to establish a habit that will serve them well as they move on to college and adulthood. By establishing a habit of making a daily list in the evening prior to going to bed, it allows them to have a preview of the day ahead and to have input. To make the list practical and realistic, each child writes down three to five of the most important tasks they personally need to accomplish the next day. You can make this age appropriate for your own children, but because my kids are older – they do not get to list items like, “make the bed” or “brush teeth”. Those things are a given! After making their list we work together on prioritizing each item, now they have a preview of what to expect the following day.

My kids are always asking me, "So, what's the plan?"

Now, they can see for themselves.

(Goal setting goes hand in hand with the list and there are some pretty jaw-dropping statistics about the connection between people who not only set goals, but who also write them down - that's a post for another day.)

In Training

"Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come." I Timothy 4:7-8


I spent some time with my kids yesterday... in training. Training them on the finer points of sorting and doing laundry and the proper, thorough way to clean a bathroom. One of the key points of discussion was WHY are we doing this NOW? It is after all, summer break! (I have to give my kids some credit here, they took on this training with pretty good attitudes - and each of the completed tasks were done to "Mom's Specifications.") However, it was a time consuming process to get through - both for them and for me.

There were several reasons I took time with each of them to go through the How To's of each task. First, everyone wants to wear clean clothes. Second, let's be honest - given the choice, we would all prefer using a sparkling clean bathroom over one that looks and smells like an outhouse! But the two main reasons I took on training my children in these tasks were, 1) they will need to know how to do them and 2) there may be a time that I require their help. As I shared with them, when I need their help, I won't have the time to train them.

As much as this activity was about training my kids, it was also about preparation. Preparing them to be ready to help. Preparing them for what they will need to be able to do for themselves as they grow up and get out on their own. Being prepared for the tasks of daily life is important. If I am able to see value in training my children for physical tasks - how much more should I see value in training and preparing them (and myself) spiritually.

Living a Godly life isn't about arriving at a destination - it is about daily training and preparation. It is working to develop our personal relationship with our Creator and Savior each day as we live our lives. It is about living a life focused on serving others and letting the reflection of Christ shine through us in such a way that others see Him. I haven't arrived at godliness by any means, but I am striving toward it - it is a life journey and I am in training!

Just The Beginning

Let's start at the beginning, a very fine place to start...

As a first-time blogger I'm a little nervous and excited to jump in and begin sharing my thoughts, passions and insights in such a public way. I'm thrilled (and a little overwhelmed) with all of the options and possibilities that this platform will provide. But it's just the beginning.

It's the beginning of a journey toward becoming the person I was created by God to become. The beginning of letting go of the fears which have hindered me from moving in the direction of my dreams. The beginning of letting go and trusting that I am equipped with all that is necessary to begin this journey. The beginning of partnering with others of like mind and purpose in order to accomplish something larger and greater than we are capable of individually. The beginning of encouraging and empowering others to find hope and joy in pursuit of their life's purpose. The beginning of teaching others how to be over-comers in life. The beginning of using my voice to be a voice for Him and for those who are unable to make their voices heard for themselves.

I'm looking forward to sharing thoughts, ideas and experiences that have pushed me in the direction of my dreams, abilities and passions - toward my life purpose. So, here's to sharing my fears, obstacles, joys, faith and personal victories. May it be an encouragement to those who read, and a reminder to me to keep pressing on.

This is the beginning... just the beginning!

How Does Your Garden Grow?

“The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” Isaiah 58:11

Growth is typically accompanied by a certain amount of discomfort.

When we are kids and our physical body's grow – there is often discomfort, and sometimes even pain as our body makes the transition from adolescents into maturity. A few summers ago my son went through some awful growing pains. His legs would ache so badly that we would have to get out the Tylenol and I would sit and massage his legs to help ease the pain.

Our physical bodies go through discomfort as we grow because it is necessary as our bodies develop. Our body stretches and grows as we transition from childhood to physical maturity. It should not surprise us then when we experience discomfort or “growing pains” as part of our spiritual development.

There are times as we grow spiritually, when we may go through the sun-scorched land, the time of discomfort or difficulty. But God has promised that He will always (not sometimes), ALWAYS guide us and strengthen us. What is the result? He will strengthen our frame and we will be like a well-watered garden – a spring whose waters never fail! We will have a renewed and deeper faith that will not only strengthen us, but will enable us to become an encouragement and strength to others.

This verse speaks to me about growth and God's faithfulness to us during times of growth. He will provide all that we need as we grow and strive to become spiritually mature.