The Next (Right) Thing

The month of May - although gloriously beautiful - felt somewhat like a whirlwind,

with birthday parties, sports, new babies, a dance recital and a wedding, 

in addition to all the normal household duties.

Nicholas played tee ball and loved it! It was rewarding to watch him

be a part of something he enjoyed so much,

even though a good part of my evenings at the ball fields were spent chasing after a toddler

who tried on every helmet, and drank from every water bottle she could get her hands on! 

Occasionally, she’d slip through an open gate,

and toddle onto the ball field as fast as her little legs would carry her!

No, tee ball wasn’t exactly a relaxing experience for me this year,

but I guess it really wasn't about me, either, was it?

Since we began our summer vacation at the beginning of May,

I assumed I would have extra time to do some extra projects.

But life has a way of filling up,

and those extra hours?

I spent them riding the lawn mower, weeding the flower beds and garden,

and shuttling my crew from one appointment to the next.

As the days stretched out longer than usual, with Eddie working 80-100 hour weeks,

and my schedule overflowing, 

I found my soul craving rest and order.

Sometimes I would complain to him that I didn’t even have time to sit down!

Maybe that was a bit of an exaggeration, but the real struggle

was that I felt like I couldn’t take the time to rest.

On days when I knew I had to leave the house for morning and evening appointments,

and every spare minute was accounted for,

I felt overwhelmed before I even started my day!

I wanted to cry, or better yet, go back to bed, and forget all the responsibilities for awhile.

But we just don’t get that option in the real world, do we?

So I often found myself silently chanting, “Just do the next thing.”

If the bed is unmade, I can make it in less than 5 minutes, and I feel so much more at rest 

when I enter my room.

Typically, I clean up the kitchen before I start any other projects.

I find that I function so much better when the clutter is gone!

Then I tackle the laundry or cleaning or whatever else needs to be finished. 

When I feel exhausted, and it’s not even lunchtime,

I focus on the next thing, and do that.

And then the next. 

And I pray - many little prayers throughout the day,

some as simple as “help me, God!”

And He does.

Sometimes, it’s by giving me strength just to do the next thing.

 And sometimes, it’s by a gentle nudge, reminding me to sit for a few minutes

and watch my children play.

Doing the next thing doesn't mean that I busy myself every minute of every day.

I tend to do that: so overwhelmed by life at times

that I race from one project to the next like a hamster on a wheel.

At the end of the day, that busy-ness will feel more exhausting than productive

if doing the next thing hasn't been the right thing.

Sometimes the right thing will mean a temporary sacrifice of my list,

but it will always mean a deep sense of satisfaction.

In every season, there will be challenging days and exhaustion.

But there can also be peace, order and joy in these moments,

if I choose to live my life on purpose.

Make that list!

Prioritize what is most important, and do that first.

And then do the next thing.

And when you don't know what to do next?

Pray for grace to do the next right thing,

and just do that.

Make time to pick flowers, and swing the children,

and read them stories.

Kiss your husband and tell him you love him, and spend a few minutes reading the Bible.

Text that friend who is struggling;

make that meal.

And always - especially when you think you can't - take time to rest.

If you're a doer like me,

you know just how hard it is to give yourself that freedom.

But even a few minutes of rest will make that next thing

feel so much more possible!

As I walk into another busy week, my prayer is that I will have strength

 to do the next right thing,

and find joy in doing it.