Being on time is not my strong suit.
I have always tried to get one more thing done. So when I have a few minutes to spare before having to leave home or go do the next thing, I would fill up the next few minutes by finding something to do - put away one more thing, finish one more housework, read one more page of a book, send one more text, reply to one more email......
Nothing might seem wrong with it, but by trying to get one more thing done, I often run later than expected, and as a result, instead of having a few minutes to spare, I need to rush for the next thing. While this has not been much of an issue with work or school, Hubby can tell you that he has waited for me more times than he wants, and I have been late to appointments.
And I finally realized that this tendency to get one more thing done goes deeper than having a bad habit, or wanting to cross off another item on my to-do list, so to speak. It has a lot to do with being still, being at rest, being less perfectionist; or the opposite of it.
These past few weeks, I have become more aware of this trying-to-get-one-more-thing-done habit. I tell myself that it is okay to do this "one thing" later and that I need to focus on what I need to do right now, on the task at hand. Whatever this "one thing" is, it will still be there waiting for me.
While I have been late a few times, I find myself more at ease and more calm. I finally understand that I don't have to fill my every waking moment with things to do. It is perfectly fine to have a spare moment, to be still and not get every single thing done right away, because I don't have to be in the driver's seat and everything will still be alright.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
Pink Candle
A few weeks ago, as I was doing some cleaning for the new year, I finally started burning the candle I had received as a bridal shower favor. It smelled good in the house!
While enjoying the candle, somehow I remembered joking with a newlywed couple about the wife moving in and "decorating" the house with pink, smelly and girly stuff. It then occurred to me that maybe I should ask Hubby what he thought about the candle - it was pink, and the scent was pineapple.
So below was our conversation, re-created from my memory -
Me: Babe, can I burn the candle in the living room? (I actually had started burning the candle already)
Hubby: Yes.
Me: But it's pink and it smells like pineapple.
Hubby: That's fine.
He did not mind! But wait, something was missing.
Me: So you don't have a problem with it?
Hubby: Yes, it is being left unattended in the living room.
Oh, right. We were in the TV room. But that's my Hubby! :)
While enjoying the candle, somehow I remembered joking with a newlywed couple about the wife moving in and "decorating" the house with pink, smelly and girly stuff. It then occurred to me that maybe I should ask Hubby what he thought about the candle - it was pink, and the scent was pineapple.
So below was our conversation, re-created from my memory -
Me: Babe, can I burn the candle in the living room? (I actually had started burning the candle already)
Hubby: Yes.
Me: But it's pink and it smells like pineapple.
Hubby: That's fine.
He did not mind! But wait, something was missing.
Me: So you don't have a problem with it?
Hubby: Yes, it is being left unattended in the living room.
Oh, right. We were in the TV room. But that's my Hubby! :)
Sunday, January 23, 2011
New Year's Resolution: Giving
Since it is still January, it is not too late to talk about new year's resolutions. :)
For as long as I could remember, I would make a list on New Year's Eve of things I would like to accomplish in the new year. For this year, however, instead of a list of things to accomplish, I have three goals for the year that are less things to do but more like life-long projects. The first one is giving.
A couple of years ago, I had a thought of giving something to someone every day. It could be things tangible or otherwise. Most of the time, I found myself giving the same thing - letting a car from the parking lot or the side road pull in front of me while I was driving. This was good, but it was certainly not the only way to give. Soon, the thought of giving became less and less prominent and I was less and less diligent about it. But last Christmas, as I was re-reading Matthew West's Give This Christmas Away, in which he gives 101 ideas of giving, I thought of extending this to a year-long project for 2011 and God confirmed the idea.
A few weeks into the year, I am happy to report that this has been a great start! Most of the things I have given are little things - time, friendships, little gifts, car rides, donations, and yes, occasionally, letting a car pull in front of me - but they have been giving me a lot of joy. There is nothing in me that can give any of these things, but I know it is God enabling me to pay more attention to others and He is guiding me in my giving. In the process, I find me thinking of myself less, which is a great benefit!
How about you? What can you give someone today?
For as long as I could remember, I would make a list on New Year's Eve of things I would like to accomplish in the new year. For this year, however, instead of a list of things to accomplish, I have three goals for the year that are less things to do but more like life-long projects. The first one is giving.
A couple of years ago, I had a thought of giving something to someone every day. It could be things tangible or otherwise. Most of the time, I found myself giving the same thing - letting a car from the parking lot or the side road pull in front of me while I was driving. This was good, but it was certainly not the only way to give. Soon, the thought of giving became less and less prominent and I was less and less diligent about it. But last Christmas, as I was re-reading Matthew West's Give This Christmas Away, in which he gives 101 ideas of giving, I thought of extending this to a year-long project for 2011 and God confirmed the idea.
A few weeks into the year, I am happy to report that this has been a great start! Most of the things I have given are little things - time, friendships, little gifts, car rides, donations, and yes, occasionally, letting a car pull in front of me - but they have been giving me a lot of joy. There is nothing in me that can give any of these things, but I know it is God enabling me to pay more attention to others and He is guiding me in my giving. In the process, I find me thinking of myself less, which is a great benefit!
How about you? What can you give someone today?
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Shoebox Recap
I hope your new year has been going well! Before the year goes by too quickly, it is time to do some recap - on Operation Christmas Child!
My last update was in October, when we were in the middle of it. There are many great stories to tell, and below are some highlights -
And remember the number 300 (see last update)? Merely a week before collection deadline, we had about half the number. Just as I was wondering how the goal would be reached, it was when the teacher called me to tell me about the 100+ boxes from our middle school kids.
By the end of collection, 379 packed shoeboxes were dropped off and over $1,900 was raised through church and the tennis tournament. It amazes me to look at these numbers!
I am very thankful to everyone who participated in Operation Christmas Child. Because of you, many children around the world got to know someone overseas cared for them, and that God loved them. This was not at all about me setting goals, but I cannot tell you how much I was blessed throughout those few weeks. It was such a privilege and joy to be a part of this, to see God's hand move and to see God's people give generously and willingly.
My last update was in October, when we were in the middle of it. There are many great stories to tell, and below are some highlights -
- We had a booth at church and many took interest in packing shoeboxes or making individual donations. Many involved their families, friends and Sunday School classes. Almost 1,000 brochures were distributed in six weeks!
- When a mother-daughter duo dropped off two boxes, they told me that one of them was packed by their non-believer friend who insisted on packing a shoebox for a child!
- At our packing party, we processed and packed a few dozen boxes (not to mention we had a lot of fun!).
- Our church middle school kids packed over a hundred shoeboxes in just a couple of weeks!
- Our church tennis league did a tournament to benefit Operation Christmas Child. In a very short amount of time, we put together the details for the tournament. It was great fun that day and we raised over $600 and collected over 12 packed boxes and many donations that helped pack a few more dozen shoeboxes!
- Our AWANA kids packed over 40 boxes!
- My friend from my Bible study class got her high school students involved and they packed over 60 boxes!
- At the drop-off location, we were even able to help raise funds for a summer missions trips for college students by dropping off our boxes. For each box they were to collect, a dollar was donated towards the missions trip funds.
And remember the number 300 (see last update)? Merely a week before collection deadline, we had about half the number. Just as I was wondering how the goal would be reached, it was when the teacher called me to tell me about the 100+ boxes from our middle school kids.
By the end of collection, 379 packed shoeboxes were dropped off and over $1,900 was raised through church and the tennis tournament. It amazes me to look at these numbers!
I am very thankful to everyone who participated in Operation Christmas Child. Because of you, many children around the world got to know someone overseas cared for them, and that God loved them. This was not at all about me setting goals, but I cannot tell you how much I was blessed throughout those few weeks. It was such a privilege and joy to be a part of this, to see God's hand move and to see God's people give generously and willingly.
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