I have a dishwasher… but I often forget to use it when I should.
Let me explain.
A sink full of dirty pots and pans is not a pleasant scene and can even affect my emotions. Recently, after a full day of work and an evening with the kids, I came into the kitchen and my eyes were drawn to the pile in the sink.
It doesn’t get like this very often, but it seemed like we managed to use every utensil and plate in the house within hours.
Didn’t I JUST wash the dishes?
A sense of overwhelm came over me, and while I could’ve just looked away, it was calling my name. The job needed to be done, so with the energy I had left over, I picked up the sponge and started with plate #1.
“Why don’t you use the dishwasher?”, my husband asked.
Oh! It had slipped my mind that I could make my evening a lot more simpler if I just accepted help.
Why is it that we load ourselves with pressure to do things on our own when we’ve already exhausted ourselves? Is it possible to limit the sense of constantly feeling overwhelmed?
There is a time to learn independence…but after we have reached an age of maturity, we realize the importance of interdependence.
You do your part, I’ll do mine…and together, we can get the job done. Faster and Easier.
With virtual school, I have realized how much I depend on my husband and school teachers to get the job done…but most importantly, I have recognized my necessity for prayer.
I decided to join my church in praying early in the morning for a few weeks to cover my children and other needs. I’ll admit that I’m half awake for the first few minutes, but it has been the best thing I could have done for our family.
When Paul was addressing the church in Corinth, he reminded them that he was doing his job, while another gentleman, Apollos, was given a separate task in advancing the gospel….they didn’t need to stress about doing things alone.
“What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.” 1 Corinthians 3: 5-6 (NIV)
They were co-workers! He says in 1 Corinthians 3:9: “For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.” (NIV)
Paul had a job and Apollos had a job. God took care of the rest.
Think about a company. Without the laborers, it’s just a building with a CEO. You need people skilled in different areas to make an organization successful.
In God’s Kingdom, we’re all assigned duties based on the skills we were gifted with…and you’re not expected to do everything on your own, but you ARE expected to do your job with excellence.
I am so grateful for my co-workers at my job who have strengths in areas I am weak in…and I tell them that whenever I can. When we each do our job with excellence, the final product is successful.
What task has God given you to accomplish? Is it a work assignment, a relationship that needs mending, virtual school homework with your kids?
You do what you can, allow others to do what they can, and God will take care of the rest.
And don’t forget to start your day with prayer. It will be the greatest weapon you carry as you tackle the challenges of your day…be it a large project or a sink full of dishes.
~Betsy
*photo by Nathan Dumlao on unsplash.com
