Ordering Our Life
{Titus 2:3-5}
Part 1
Where Does the Time Go?
“Anyone want some help getting their life in order? ” The faces and names filled in quickly. Women are trying to do it all. Is that true for you, too? So much on our plates. Too much, even. Sure, we’re powerful and competent and capable-all that and more. But we’re limited. Ahh, I know I lost some of you there; hang with me. No matter how brilliant our minds, how lofty our title, how big (or small) our house, our car, our bank account, how healthy our body, and no matter if we’re happily married, or completely alone in our day to day requirement, we have each the same 60 minutes in every hour to our 24 hour day. No more and no less. Without exception, we are all limited by time. Not a thing we can do to change it. How we choo
se, as we’re able, to use those moments is our decision.
So often somewhere between high school and early motherhood we find ourselves spinning in the middle of our own lives, going nowhere fast with no idea how to get off the crazy merry-go-round. We’re stuck, we’re out of control for the first time ever, and we’re too disoriented to even begin to think about how to stop– it let alone fix it. When we dare peek through the blur, what we see is some semblance of our former selves mustering the day in odd fitting and tattered clothing (maybe not even our own), dark under-eye bags outlining drooping lids, crying babies, toy-strewn carpet (and stairs and toilets…), unstuffed cushions, half-opened mail, overflowing trashcans, dirty sheets, full laundry rooms, and disheveled refrigerators and pantries. The whole scene scares us so much we tuck back in and continue spinning, because, as difficult as it is, it’s easier than facing reality. Believe me when I say: 1. It’s not as bad as the voice in your ear is telling you, and 2. You’re not alone! We -you, me and the Lord – can make this better together!
It’s almost laughable to hear the 
proposition of ordering our life. In our dreams it’s a lovely thought. It seems impossible from where you are, but it’s definitely not. Tears roll down our cheeks, and we’re grateful the end means to both laughter and crying is the same. Tissue, please. Like the elephant in the room, among all the other moms and wives who seem to have it altogether, we continue to tell ourselves the same lies. Lies. And, we die a little inside to think everyone else has figured it out and “she” makes the put together life look so easy while we’re spinning out of control. Please, notice her closets are all closed, too. 😉 We’re self-proclaimed failures when really, we all struggle.
We can all learn to live an orderly if we’re willing to change.
Ephesians 5:15-17 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,
making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Where do we even start? Does anyone even know where we should spend our time? The thing with the clock is it keeps ticking, it continues keeping sync, and time is passing whether or not we’re doing anything purposefully. We’ve all wanted to stop time before, if for a minute-catch up, or to get things straight, even to just breathe…but it never happens. The Bible talks about time, and redeeming it. Have you ever redeemed something? It’s a trade: something for something. We do the same thing with our time. Willingly or not, we trade it. Since time is limited with no exception, it’s quite the valuable commodity.
What are you trading for your time?
This brings me to our the first exercise in Ordering Our Life: without scrutinizing and with as little or as much detail as you’d like, jot down where you’re spending your time. It’s simple, in each allotted space, write out what you’re doing (feeding the baby, making breakfast, cleaning the bathroom) whatever it is. What you’re NOT trying to do here is FIX anything. Just make your schedule a mirror of your day’s (and night’s) time. Do this for a few days straight.
Then, come back with your filled in schedule for the next exercise in Ordering Your Life: Titus 2: 3-5 when we’ll learn more about our priorities. We’re not living one another’s lives, and we don’t want to cookie-cutter our schedule like the next one. It won’t work. IF I could hand you your life on paper, I would. So, I’ll hold your hand and help you through it, but it’s going to be up to you to follow-through. Let’s do this!
Here you go: Use this daily schedule to get started. See you back here soon for more about PRIORITIES!
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