Our Busy Lives

Discussing priorities, the never-ending Sisyphean task of housework, and the little quests our busy lives send us on with the reading of three poems.

Featuring readings of Our Busy Lives from Be Refreshed, Housework from Meet My Friend, and Priorities from Quiet Moments With Jesus.

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This is episode 5. We’re calling this Our Busy Lives. Life seems so busy. There always are routine things that need addressing, besides unexpected events that crop up during the day that demand our attention.

We have a saying in our house that whenever a task is completed, we say, now on to the next thing, and so it goes. If we stop for a break and make a cuppa, it’s then I realise we were out of milk, so now I’m off to the shop. And then I get back and I just sit down, and the front doorbell hails visitors have arrived, or the phone rings. And so my day progresses, until it is the time to prepare and cook the evening meal. There now might be time to relax for a while, and do some more knitting for the children.

The following verses may explain a typical day better. It’s called our busy lives, and I take it from the text in Deuteronomy 6, verse 12, that says: but be careful that you do not forget the Lord.

I wake up in the morning
And already my day is planned,
For there’s so very much to do
As I take all the jobs in hand.

I have a hurried breakfast,
Then pull the vacuum from its nook,
Push the cleaner round the house,
Then from the cupboard duster took.

When the house has been cleaned up,
I drive off to the local shop,
To buy more food and pay some bills,
No time to chat or look or stop.

Now it’s on to the next thing,
For there’s phone calls I have to make,
Then gather up ingredients
For the cake I promised to bake.

It is time to do the garden
And take grandchildren to the zoo,
For my daughter is so busy
And mum has little she must do!!

Returning home exhausted,
There is dinner now to be cooked,
But just before I get started
There’s an appointment to be booked.

A hurried meal then wash up,
And it’s off to my evening class;
I don’t feel much like studying,
But if I don’t then I won’t pass.

At last I’m home for a while,
And I fall thankfully into bed,
One more busy day is over
And I can rest my weary head.

But as I lay in the dark,
The pastor’s words come back to me,
“Don’t be so bound to the urgent
That the important you don’t see.”.

What could be more important,
Than my dear Saviour’s saving grace?
And though He’s been with me all day,
I’ve not left time my Lord to face.

So when I wake tomorrow,
Before I start my hectic day,
I’ll read His word and be refreshed,
As I come to my Lord and pray.

So Father please forgive me,
For my dire neglect of you,
Let all my days from this day on,
Be lived for you my whole day through.

And though I may be busy,
As my routine demands of me,
I’ll keep the important in sight,
So your light I may always see.

Yes, there is always endless housework, and if you want to clean the house and a good food for the family, actually I’ve tidied and cleaned the house, and I feel pleased that I’m ordered now, and my house looks neat, even though it doesn’t seem to stay that way for very long. However, I know that the Lord never changes. He’s always there to listen when I need to talk.

In fact, I love the hymn where the lyrics tell us that yesterday, today, tomorrow, Jesus is the same. This next poem is about housework, and I’ve taken it from Proverbs 31 verse 27, where it says: She watches over the affairs of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Well, I’m tackling all the housework,
Like I always do each week,
There is dust and dirt and endless mess,
Almost everywhere I seek

And so I get out the dusters
And the soapsuds, cloths and broom,
Then I set about the task at hand
As I clean up every room.

My house it now looks in order,
And I sit me down to rest,
For I now know that my little house
Is looking its very best.

I guess my life is just like that,
Whatever my intention,
For I try to clear it then I find,
Too many times to mention

That my life is not in order
I haven’t done what I could,
So I ask God to forgive my sins
And start over like I should.

I guess just like my little house
My life will not perfect be,
But I will always keep on trying
With God to encourage me.

Yes, our life is so busy, but life is also precious, as it is a gift from God. Although days pass quickly, it is important to get priorities right. During the day, I often send what I call arrow prayers to Jesus, but I need some quality time to pay, and to pray with the Lord, and to pray with the Lord, and just to sit in a quiet place.

Following is a short example of priorities, which should always be his work through you. Priorities is taken from Matthew, chapter 6, verse 33, that says: But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Need time to reflect on who you are,
What you want to do with your life?
For influence from this world can bring,
Anxiety, stress and strife.

Recognise those influences,
Know what your priorities should be,
Display care and understanding,
And you’ll find yourself you see.

Share your gift of life with others,
Both your families and friend,
If you need help with what to say,
Who to your thoughts should you send?

Let God be your priority,
Make time to know your Lord’s there,
Ask Him how to serve other people,
Bring all to our God in prayer.