Scribbling on the Calendar

Are you frazzled?  I’m always a bit frazzled, which I like to re-frame as a positive attribute by calling it “spontaneity”.  Truth is, I’ve always got a little of lots of things floating through my head and I just don’t always have a way to make my plans work out the way I’d hoped.

What was I doing for homeschool this week?  Which chores do I absolutely have to do today…ah…probably the laundry in the washing machine that I forgot about four days ago and now have to re-wash.  I’m taking kids out and the baby is going to wear rain boots again because who can say where his blue sneaks went?  (Probably in the neglected laundry.)  Something is beeping…was someone in time out, perhaps, or does that mean my coffee is done?  Mail…I need to mail something…or call someone?  Or am I waiting on a call?  And I should really try to go to the library the same day each week so I avoid all those late fees.  Drat, who decided dinner was something we need every night? What was I doing again?

Life with kids can only be so scheduled anyway, as children tend to reorganize even the best laid plans.

I don’t know about others out there, but one thing I’ve struggled with is a list of unrealistic expectations for the day.  I want to feel productive, whatever-the-moose that means.  I want to be connected with friends, intentional with my kids, honoring to my husband, focused on God and positive things…and wouldn’t it be nice to have a clean house and creative time for myself each day while I’m at it?  But that doesn’t happen.  Not all of it everyday anyway.  Some days the most “productive” thing I do is shower.

Plans change.  Yet I keep putting things in my planner anyway.  Recently I went to write something on my calendar only to find that my two year old had added some events of his own.  Scribbles, of course.

Based on his attire below in a superman costume with his sister’s fashion accessories, who knows what he added to the events of the week?  He’s probably ready and excited for anything.  But he doesn’t necessarily get to choose what happens, does he?  The two year old isn’t in control.

But it makes me wonder… if maybe my plans seem like scribbles on the calendar to God.  Maybe the things I think are so important to do are just not always the things that need to be done.  Maybe sometimes the interruptions, the hardships, and the unexpected surprises are more critical to growing me into the person I’m meant to be than all my own carefully crafted goals.  There’s something strangely scary and reassuring in realizing that I’m not in control of my life any more than my two year old calls the shots in my planner.

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”                                                                                         Proverbs 19:21 (NIV)

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”                                                                                                                                                              Matthew 11:28-29 (NIV)

When I come to God and lay down my lists…lay down my burdens, I find He has a better plan for me.  Something restful.  Which doesn’t sound productive, does it?  But maybe giving our stuff over and letting God take it is the most productive thing we could do.  May we slow down long enough to lay down our plans before the One who owns the story, and find ourselves at peace within our piece of the story today, whatever that may be.

Have you found yourself lately trying to do it all and needing to give God the pen to your calendar?  Have you been resting in God’s plan and finding yourself less stressed about your to-do list?  Please share your story with the rest of us!