Do the holidays create extra busyness in your life? If you’re like me, before you know it you add this to your already hectic day, and then this comes up and then before long your week looks like … well, not too good. I read this morning “Busy stands for ‘Buried Under Satan’s Yoke’.” And so I started thinking.
Just who do I think I am? What do I think I’m doing anyway? Wow, I have been in the middle of what I have been claiming as ‘busyness’. I’ve been adjusting ‘to-dos’ and saying ‘ta-da’. I know in the past, like on those proverbial Holiday letters, I have even ‘bragged’ about our busy schedules. I’ve found myself almost flaunting all I have to do … what for? Do I think I deserve some sort of merit badge for getting all huffy and stuffy about sharing a minute here or giving you a moment there? Like, ‘Mmmm Hmmm, I am sacrificing my time here and don’t take it for granted!’
Now that I have had a few hours to ponder this admonishment I am happy it came when it did. I needed it today. It was necessary to – not relax in my efforts – but to take on a calm spirit of work and diligence. Sometimes we put all this stuff on our agenda, pretending to be some super-hero that has more hours in a day than God. I re-evaluated once again the to-dos in my world and know that the important stuff is getting done. I got to check off some pretty powerful accomplishments. And yep, I also, moved several items to tomorrow’s deadline and a couple even further … therefore, I felt less frantic and pushed.
Some synonyms of ‘busy’ are drudging, laboring, toiling, over-busy, tied up … and I think these not so fun words helped me realize being busy isn’t always the thing I want or need to be. Let me preferably be steady, diligently moving forward and redeeming the time but not be caught up in the yoke of drudgery and laborious tasks that weigh me down.
The holiday season can take its toll on us by our choosing to say ‘Yes’ to this and that in addition to our regularly full schedules. We need to reduce stress not add to it. We must claim our time. Make worthy, stabilizing choices and not just be busy for busy’s sake or for bragging rights! Sometimes you just got to take stock and say “No more!” “My schedule is complete.” “Opps, sorry, no thanks, this plate is full!”
Satan, get lost, this woman is claiming some freedom! Be gone ye yokes of busyness, be gone!
Tags: Doing-What-You-Can
This is so, so true! And I love the abbreviation “Buried under Satan’s Yoke” that is exactly what busyness is- a yoke that we do not need to carry.
Thanks for that! Well, we attempted to establish “a date” for Christmas two years ago (that would henceforth and forever be THE date) … but between a sickness last year (hubby’s dad, and we certainly couldn’t have Christmas without him feeling good) and then the Canada trip this year (for hubby’s bro & fam), the date is VERY liquid. My main thing is I must keep reminding myself these are not really my issues so quick picking them up. Don’t claim them! But of course I’m still having to deal with it, whatever my attitude is.
Hubby is just trying to keep everyone somewhat happy, bless his heart. My goal is to be at peace as long as I do my best and my motives are pure. So far, so good on that one in theory.
Oh, Emily-Sarah, I feel for you! And what you described is ‘a yoke’… heavy indeed! We’ve nearly always lived hours and even countries away from our families but when we were stateside it sometimes could end up being a tough decision. I, too, have seen families torn up from decisions made or not made in their favor over the holidays. As for me and my grown kids I let them know and am holding to the policy that they are ‘released’ from any obligation to spend the holidays with hubby and me. I suggested one year to themselves, a year with his, a year with hers OR whatever they were comfortable with. But they need to establish themselves as a unit first. More times that once, we’ve had an ‘early’ Christmas with one side, so that we’d could head over to another … or stay home. :0) Wow, it is hard to be gracious in the midst of hard feelings.
Just keep being an exmaple … another idea is to plan way ahead of time and start some new traditions. Maybe, giving everyone fair warning to get their fuming out og the way! Also, how does hubby feel?
I’ve attempted to say no more this year — but it seems the trouble spot is family/relatives. My husband’s family gathers (Christmas Eve) and so does his mom’s extended family (Dec. 26 and his dad’s extended family (Dec 27). We are EXPECTED to attend ALL of these get-togethers. When there was at first a conflict with the Christmas Eve event, his mom was none too pleased. (Disaster averted when we said we could come for the morning {then entertain out-of-town guests for a couple of hours and then on to MY one remaining tradition from childhood with my parents: Moravian lovefeast. Now we have a hectic Christmas Eve that may feel like a marathon.)
I talked with a dear friend today and when I asked her about Christmas, she said she was depressed and wanted it to be over. Her mom is angry with her because she and her family won’t come to her mom’s house Christmas Day morning and forego the daughter’s family time together. Her mom also says that they favor the in-laws over her.
It’s tough to extract ourselves from familial expectations that are often NOT easily forgotten (or forgiven). It’s hard to understand why some family members cause such chaos and drama over holidays. Control reigns and Christ is barely mentioned. I’m thankful my parents are pretty easygoing in this category … and I’m already thinking of ways that I can replicate flexibility when my little boy grows up and we add in another family to his mix.