Too Much

There are decisions to be made about school next year--will we do any outside classes? Where will we do them? What kinds of classes will we take? Does the Lord even want us to take any classes? Would it be wise to spend our money on such classes? Oh, but Joshua's friends are going to be taking classes here and Sophie's will be taking classes there and in a week is the early registration and if you don't register then the classes get full...and you have to put down 1/3 of the cost just to secure the class...and think about what they are going to miss out on if they don't take these classes...and they'll be missing out on all of these opportunities if you don't sign them up.

IT'S TOO MUCH

Are you going to do cross country next year? and don't forget flag football--everyone from Joshua's basketball team is doing it; he'll be the only one who's not. And don't forget baseball. We can't NOT do baseball. And where are you doing baseball? My kids learned a lot of interesting language last year at THAT baseball league; I wouldn't do that one. And what about swimming? It's only three mandatory days a week at the Y. Oh, and volleyball. Don't forget volleyball. That's only two days a week. And let's not forget the summer art class, everybody's doing it, you know. And it only meets one day a week.

IT'S TOO MUCH

And what about the summer camps? There is art camp. And then there is church camp that is only a mere $250 per child. But come on, Mom, everybody is going--I'll be the only one not there! And let's not forget soccer camp, basketball camp and Lego camp. And don't forget Vacation Bible School. And then there are the Zoo camps. And don't forget Camp Hi-Ho that costs so much that we would need to take out a second mortgage. Oh, and then we have Drama camp--Oh, Mom, I REALLY want to do this one; we actually get to be in a movie that will be seen across the country...

IT'S TOO MUCH

Which curriculum are you going to use next year? Well, you've got to do this one for writing--it's only $200, but totally worth it. And this spelling program only takes 45 minutes of your daily time per child for eight straight years but the payoffs are worth it, really. And you really need to homeschool per the Charlotte Mason method--you'll only be reading outloud to your childen three hours a day. and don't forget Latin--your kids really need to be learning Latin or you can just forget about high SAT scores. It only takes two hours a day to diagram sentences in Latin and we had to hire a Latin tutor just to pass our Latin exams. And I know the language is dead, but it's worth it, really.

IT'S TOO MUCH

Don't forget to send in the rebate for your new phone. And we've got to take back that movie that we bought for Joshua that didn't work. And Sophie needs a pair of jeans that fit. And Jeremiah's tennis shoes are falling apart. Owen's shoes are two sizes too small. No one has any short sleeve shirts and shorts in their drawers--changing that out for five people will take at least five days. and Sophie doesn't have any Spring clothes that fit. And the DAV is coming by today--make sure you set out all those boxes full of stuff. And don't forget to pay the electric, phone and cable bills today. And you better sign up for the homeschool convention and that Tim Hawkins show--it's almost sold out. And have you made that doctor's appointment for your husband yet? He might have high blood pressure and if he collapses in the middle of one of his work outs it's gonna be your fault.

IT'S TOO MUCH

Make sure that you don't buy regular milk from the store anymore. It's full of hormones and your daughter will wind up looking like Dolly Parton by the fifth grade. Instead, you'll need to go across town every third Tuesday at 4:00 pm sharp and buy goat's milk for $5.99 a gallon. And if you don't make your own bread you aren't getting the 28 essential vitamins that every child needs. And make sure you buy fresh fruits and vegetables from the Farmer's Market on Monday afternoons. They are pesticide free. And did you hear about that amazing new drink that you can buy and drink daily? It only cost $6.99 a gallon but it is guaranteed to rid your body of toxins and increase your life span by 10%. Is your baby food homemade? And if you don't have your own garden of home grown vegetables you're just not taking care of your family...

IT'S TOO MUCH

Are you holding your child to first time obedience? And are you teaching them sign language? Oh my, if you don't then they will be whiny. And what about blanket time? Room time? And definitely let's not forget couch time. If you are not doing couch time your children are positively ruined. You might as well give it up. Are you taking advantage of that window of time when you put your kids to bed? If you don't you will not have good, open communication with your children and they'll never ever tell you anything. Are you having family time? Family devotions? Family nights? Are you taking each of your children on one on one dates? You better do this once a month or they'll never feel loved. And what about date nights? Once a week you better do date nights so that your kids know you love each other.....

IT'S TOO MUCH

Oh my. No wonder I am experiencing shortness of breath these days! I am sure you can relate to many of these 'things'--maybe you don't homeschool, etc. but you can exchange the curriculum choices to teacher choices and what not. We all have our lists of things pulling at us and closing in on us until we feel like we can no longer breathe. Granted, many of these things listed are really good things. I am reminded of the verse: 'everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial.' 1 Cor. 10:23. Many activities are good, but is God calling us to all of them? I heard Beth Moore say in a bible study, 'You cannot do 100 things to the glory of God!' There is so much truth in that statement and it is also a truth to remember when choosing what extra classes and activities to put our children in.'

I think it comes down to the question: In what and in whom do I put my trust? So often, I choose to put my trust in the activity or achieving a desired output. But God tells us to trust in Him. He tells us to 'seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well' Matthew 6:33.

So from a practical standpoint, what does that look like exactly?

As I have been feeling 'pulled and pushed', God gave me a picture of writing down all of these decisions regarding school and activities--laying it all out before Him and then waiting on Him and His Wisdom. Waiting on God. Wow, such a hard concept for us westernized people who are used to receiving information in a matter of a few seconds. Yet God wants us to wait on Him and allow Him to lead us in all of our decisions. And if I can't wait on Him for His guidance, than where is my trust? It's in myself and the activity. If I am more concerned about 'missing out' then I am in whether God wants us to do the activity in the first place, than I am no longer allowing God to lead us....I have pushed Him out of the driver's seat and taken over the wheel.

I keep hearing God say 'less is more' and 'live simply' in all areas of your life. The hardest part is actually applying this (and applying it consistently!) I constantly feel like we are tempted by the 'too much' lifestyle.

Lord, help us to daily trust you to lead us and not get caught up in what everyone around us is doing! Help us to 'not turn from to the right or to the left', to not look at what this person or that person is doing. Help us to look to You and You alone, knowing that if any of we lack wisdom, we should ask You, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to us. (James 1:5)

In Jesus' Name I pray all of these things, Amen.