Work as if you were doing it for the Lord, not for people. Colossians 3:23
Work as if you were serving the Lord, not as if you were serving only men and women. Ephesians 6:7
I am a list maker. I admit it and claim it! Deadlines, chores, to-do, writing, reading, grocery, goals, financial, exercise, daily, weekly, monthly, yearly. I love lists. And luckily, I don’t mind having an item reappear because I didn’t complete it on its assigned day. I’m flexible to a degree.
Right now I am facing the end of my summer break. It’s time for me to go back to work. As a teacher I give my energy to my students and vocation for ten months and enjoy the two months off in the summer. My energy is then spent on other non-working goals. So, the summer is ending and takes with it my detailed lists of home projects, writing, reading, movies. Next week, shorter versions of those lists will appear, for I can’t imagine giving up reading and writing just because I work outside my home.
Deadlines inspire me instead of intimidating me. Presently, I have editing deadlines before my novels can be released. Deadlines dominate my teaching days as I strive to complete and distribute information in an enlightening way to my students within a certain period of time. I put deadlines in every area of my life. My favorite ones are the ones that have a short-term ending date–two weeks, six weeks, a semester. It’s hard for me to concentrate on a deadline two years away.
Endings are bitter-sweet. I strive on the feeling of achievement and accomplishment. Yet, the end of a great book or the end of a restful summer comes with a sigh of wanting it to continue just a bit longer. But, vacation will come again as will the next awesome book.
Beginnings have the air of hope and anticipation, even of mystery. So many unexpected blessings wait around the corner. For example, this school year or even this next week will introduce me to some exceptional students and colleagues who end up teaching me so much about life and relationships as well as technology and facts.
Remember to enjoy your deadlines, endings, and beginnings as you do the work God has given you to do.
What deadlines, endings, or beginnings are you currently facing?
Just finished reading “Candle in the Darkness” by Lynn Austin Page. It is Historical Romance written about the Civil War and the way families were torn apart. Great book. She has two sequels.
I love Lynn Austin…I’ll have to add that one to my list.