I recently remembered a visit I had to a nursing home as a child. There was a lady in a wheelchair sitting in the hallway. I remember a nurse saying that it was the lady’s birthday and she told the lady to tell the little girl (me) how old she was. The lady in the wheelchair immediately became agitated, put a frown on her face and quickly said, “I’m busy, I don’t have time!”
As an adult reflecting back on that visit to the nursing home, it seems quite comical. To think, here’s a person who is now confined to a nursing home, possibly to live out her final days, sitting in her wheelchair in the hallway, yet she thought she was too busy to share how old she was. I’m guessing this lady, probably had many hectic days in her life, prior to arriving at the nursing home. Days when she felt so busy she couldn’t even catch her breath or find adequate time to rest. Over the years, she probably got really good at saying, “I’m busy!”
This memory caused me to consider my own life. It made me ask the question, “What is it that I think I am too busy to do?” And if I am too busy, “why?” Am I really too busy or are my priorities just out of order? Am I really too busy or are there just things I need to eliminate from my schedule?
Remembering my encounter with this lady many years ago, taught me a couple of lessons about life that I can understand now as an adult.
1.) Don’t allow myself to become so busy (or think I’m so busy) that I no longer have time for the simple things in life that mean so much.
2.) Make sure the things I am doing, are fruitful things that God really does intend for me to do, especially if I plan to tell someone, “I’m busy!”
Many of us can probably relate to the overwhelming feeling of being busy, especially with the world we live in today. Although we can’t change the world, we can certainly ask God to show us areas of our own lives where we have become too busy. And we can ask Him to help us prioritize according to His will, and He will guide us.
There are many things we can fill our days with to keep busy. But what is most important? And how can we best serve God and bring Him glory as we go about our daily tasks?
May God grant us wisdom and discernment as we surrender our work/tasks, goals and schedules to Him. When we surrender, He will be faithful to give us the perspective we need.
Romans 12:2 ESV, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
1 John 2:17 ESV, “And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”
Colossians 3:23-24 ESV, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”
Drawing Closer to Christ 