Vacuuming with My Left Hand & Living Life on Purpose

by Sheila South

A The Kids & Me Contributor

Today I was vacuuming and (as a right-handed person) decided I should strengthen my left hand. So I switched hands.

Thoughts went elsewhere.

Then I noticed. Without even noticing, I had switched back to my right-hand. It was just more natural and actually easier to control the machine with my right hand. It was my default and my go-to.

The observations?

1) Habits reign.

2) The easier way is usually the way I choose.

3) Without conscious effort and continual checking, I will fall back on #1 or #2.

Mommas, this is not the way we should live our lives. Let's start with #3 and work our way back.

Conscious Effort

Life is busy and full of never-ending tasks and 'to do' lists. There seems to be one crisis after another, one more emergency demanding our full attention, and one more need from our family that we have to meet. Days slip by. Seasons turn. Before we know, another school year has passed. Do we ever stop to look at our lives and our life-paths and determine if we are headed in the right direction? Romans 12:2 tells us:

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is -His good, pleasing and perfect will.” ~Romans 12:2 (NKJV)

The Bible teaches us that we must be intentional about renewing our minds or setting our thinking straight to align our thoughts with God's truth as revealed in Scripture. Our minds are not renewed by themselves. This process involves setting aside old, harmful thought patterns and embracing a Christ-centered understanding of life. We must put forth conscious effort at our long game - the place we want to arrive with our children.

This requires that we contemplate deeply what we are seeking from life, and consequently what we are transferring to our children. This requires that every day we prioritize among all the things we could seek those things which we should seek. If nothing else gets done, which things must be met? Of course, we need food and raiment and a safe and warm place to live. Our physical selves often prioritize our days.

But what of our spiritual selves? How do we intentionally nourish our own spirit and those of our children? Do we focus on and do we point to the Source of our spiritual strength?

"And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst." ~John 6:35 (NKJV)

The Easy Way

I remember repeatedly telling my kids when they were younger "the easy way will cost you more in the end." Do you know this to be true?

Shortcuts seem like a great answer when time is pressing and pressure is mounting. But how much do shortcuts cost us later? When we are in the grocery line and our toddler is having a meltdown over some brightly-colored packaged candy, will we succumb to the easy way and impulse buy? Or will we follow the hard path of sticking to our budget and properly addressing our child's behavior? Choices. The easy way will cost us much more in the long run.

Developing our walk with God and building strong spiritual habits are not the easy way. What can encourage us to pursue the more difficult road, to 'fight upstream' and 'go against the flow'? Jesus's own example encourages us:

"For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me." ~John 6:38 (NKJV)

We are promised:

"For the Lord God is a sun and shield;

The Lord will give grace and glory;

No good thing will He withhold

From those who walk uprightly." ~Psalm 84:11

And as we are exhorted, let us examine what we desire. Do we desire peace with ourselves and with God?

"23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. ... 25 “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." ~John 14:23-27

Ultimately, our truest desires will affect our determination to abandon the easy way and its costs.

Habits

Finally, let's get to those automatic behaviors that rule our days: our habits. Which practices order our days? Which are our good habits? Which habits do we need to redirect to align with God's purpose for our lives? and our children's lives?

Studies show it can take from 18 to 254 days to establish a habit as new behavior! Think about that in terms of parenting: in the best case scenario, moms have to consistently walk a child through a desired behavior for a minimum of 18 days (and maybe as many as 254!) to make the behavior 'automatic'. That means, mommas, we have to be as sticky as glue! If we want to establish good habits in our kids (and ourselves), we have to be committed 100% to stick with it! We have to do the necessary things even when we're tired, even when we're not motivated, and even when we'd rather choose the easy way.

How important is the day-to-day order and establishment of good habits in our lives and in our children's lives? The old saying goes:

Watch your thoughts, they become words;

watch your words, they become actions;

watch your actions, they become habits;

watch your habits, for they become your character;

watch your character, for it becomes your destiny. ~ Frank Outlaw

Our habits are SO important.

Later in life when we look back, will we be glad of the things we prioritized in our lives and in our children's lives? Knowing that our days are numbered, let's press forward with the conscious renewing of our minds according to God's Word, living with intentionality in all of our days, and pursuing great habits for ourselves and our children.

"Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom". ~Psalm 90:12 (NKJV)

Many blessings,

Sheila