By Danny Minton

November and December are two of the busiest times of the year for many of us. This month, I’ve found myself looking for time to take care of Bible lessons, CASA visits, Thanksgiving cooking, and remodeling a portion of our den. Added to this is trying to get decorations up for the Christmas holidays. We have an open house for some church folks each year, and we decorate the house. So far, I’ve gotten seven trees up and decorated, with two (maybe three) more to go, plus outside decorations and displays inside. So, this month, we are “Busy, Busy, Busy.” 

Life is like that for many of us, not only during the holiday season but also throughout the year. Some are busy trying to juggle family activities with work and other duties. Parents often find themselves pulled in several directions trying to shuffle schedules between school, home, and extracurricular activities. At the end of the day, we often wonder where all the time went and why we didn’t get more done.

Unfortunately, we often find ourselves too busy, becoming stressed and worn out to the point that we cannot enjoy the time we are spending. We fill our lives with so many busy items that we ignore areas that build us up and allow a restful, peaceful life.

Paul wrote that we should strive to fill our lives with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. Learning to practice these traits and apply them to our lives helps to ease the stress that being too busy burdens our lives. 

As you go through your busy lives, learn to have the peace of God. Paul wrote to the Philippians, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 (NASB)  

I may not get everything I want done, but that’s okay. I’ll make sure the essential things are done and leave the other things to a less stressful time. Sometimes, we just need to step back and have the attitude of Scarlett from “Gone with the Wind.” Her answer to a stressful situation on something unimportant for the time was, “I’ll think about that tomorrow.” Live today focused on how Jesus wants you to live and not stress over things that can wait.

Danny Minton is a former Elder and minister at Southern Hills Church of Christ