Several months ago, a dear friend emailed me and asked me in an absurdly flattering, but not-at-all-rhetorical way, “How in the world do you get everything done in your life?”
And in my Type A, perfectionist approach to life, I was more than happy to write her back with my plan of attack.
I wrote her all about my master calendar, my set non-negotiable bedtimes and wake-up times for myself, my packing tomorrow’s lunch while making today’s, my sleeping in workout clothes, my filling of water bottles and coffee pots and laying out of outfits the night before, and all sorts of other little “quirky” things I do to keep this ship sailing smoothly. (Sometimes “quirky” means crazy. Often times, in fact.)
As I hit send, I admittedly was a little prideful. “That’s right, I get things done!” Pat, pat, pat. (That’s me, with my right arm stretching back over my shoulder.)
Fast forward to yesterday.
I had a full day, and I was trying to help out various people in my life with meals, childcare and errands, all while keeping my own ship afloat. I tried so hard to do it all and keep my schedule, but I failed miserably.
I missed my workout.
I had to call my husband for help picking up our son.
Dinner was late and it was leftovers.
But instead, this time, I did what He asked of me. I gave love to people who needed it (and everyone needs it).
I’m not sharing this to get a pat on the back from you or me, or even a nod from above. But there’s a huge difference between seeking recognition for doing the things we are called to do, and doing things so that we are recognized as being who He created us to be. I want Him to say, “Yes! That’s my Kelly.” And I’m virtually unrecognizable as this calendar-driven crazy lady who gets it all done perfectly and according to schedule.
Instead, I want to be the woman who is embarrassingly inefficient in the way she loves others.
So, dear friend, forget my email.
What I should have said was, ”What matters more than getting things done is never saying ‘no’ to an opportunity to love on others.”
What I should have asked was, “What do you need? What can I give you?”
Because I’ve got nothing but time.
And it turns out it’s not as precious as I thought.
