Just look at our ranch dog Pistol. He intends to jump out of the front seat and chase around a cow! And that cow, she intends to keep and eye on him. If he jumps, she intends to chase him and scare him under the truck!
Instead………..I think he’s thinking……maybe it’s not worth the effort. If I jump out I might get hurt
Lately I can’t get this statement out of my head. I can’t even tell you where it came from. But somewhere in my thoughts I got frustrated one day. Watching each day pass by and yet laying my head down another night without doing those things I really intended to do.
What was it anyways that was bugging me so much? Was it that I was sick of saying I would go visit Tanya, just as soon as I finished my chores. Delayed that coffee with the neighbor more times than I can count. Forgot to call my mother in law and tell her thank you for all she has contributed to my life. There’s numerous ways she has supported me without making me feel like I was less of a woman and yet have I told her that?
So many thoughts, so little action.
But then….one day I thought. All I intend to do doesn’t need to be the after thought that comes after the if’s. If I finish the feed run early. If I get the house clean. If I wouldn’t be to embarrassed to call her for lunch. If I say all the right things.
So with that in mind I started doing all my intended to do’s. I didn’t tell her I would try to call….. I went ahead and set a date. Can you have lunch with me on Thursday? Can I come by and see you Wednesday? Can I tell you what you’ve done for me? Can I take off my shoes and visit for awhile. No hurrying to the next thing. No rushing for you to hear my opinion. Just saying right now, I intend to get to know you more because I’ve never done that before.
It’s been a few weeks now on my new adventure. All my intended to do’s have just begun. I’ve experienced a fuller life with people at the center and my housework second. I am beginning to learn what it really means to be more available to what God intends, instead of what I intend.
But does that mean that I ignore the chores, stop cooking dinner, let the laundry pile up? Yes! Sometimes, but that’s not really necessary. I do the mundane things later in the day. I try to never go to bed with a dirty kitchen. That’s one thing that gets to me, so that is a high priority. Does my husband search madly through the laundry for underwear? Yes, but that’s okay too. Sometimes commando is necessary but it won’t last long! I won’t resort to becoming a slob, so I certainly don’t intend to stay in my robe and watch endless hours of t.v.. I intend to make more important things priorities, and still complete the chores. I can do more and then when I lay my head on my pillow each night, I won’t have to worry about my..”All I Intend To Dos!”. I’ve got work to do, that’s for sure and that work, well…it’s proving to be worth the effort.
So what about you? Do you find yourself putting off your intend to dos because of fear of getting hurt, or rejection, or maybe getting laughed at? I would love to hear your thoughts, and thank you so much for reading……..
Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
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