Morning Devotionals

by Don Emmitte

 

May 12th, 2008

 

"Honking at Your Tail Lights (Part 4)"

Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 NIV).

There are a few other suggestions of practical things to do to avoid being distressed that I could not list yesterday. These are more practical and “everyday” things. They are never the less important.

§    Turn off the cell phone. Recently, I received a note from a friend everywhere he might be reached: his home phone, work phone, cell phone, pager, home e-mail, work e-mail, home fax, work fax, wife's work phone, wife's cell phone, wife's pager, and wife's e-mail. All to make life simpler! Accessibility through technology can be useful. But will the world end if you can't be reached for 60 minutes?

§    Do it now. Need to change an address in your Day-Timer? Do it now. Need to adjust the sprinkler head? Do it now. Postponing simple tasks creates a tidal wave of deadlines that gathers momentum as it crashes toward you. You won't have any more time later than you have right now.

§    If you're a parent, don't let the kids set the tone of your life. Your home should be adult centered, not kid centered. Too many parents are stressed out because their children have become czars. Your spouse and God must take priority over your children. Some parents have not been out together without their children in years. Others are exhausted, chauffeuring kids to gymnastics, soccer, Awana, and karate. Never take time off from one another.

§    Delegate. Don't do it all by yourself. Ask the question, what am I doing that someone else can or should do? You may respond, "Oh, but that person can't do it as well." But if you taught him how, could he do it 80 percent as well? If so, delegate.

§    Get rid of stuff. Most of us have more stuff than we need, including some things that get very little use. Yet they still require time, energy, and money to maintain. Do your possessions really add value to your life, or do they just eat up your resources? Clean out the garage. Get rid of stuff you haven't used for two years. Give yourself enough time to enjoy being a believer, not a distressed, hollow shell nobody wants to be around.

Though I smile whenever I heard Bobby McFerrin's whimsical tune "Don't Worry, Be Happy," when it comes to facing stress, I'm going to stick with John Sammis' classic hymn, "Trust and Obey." Try it in your life!