The Efficiency Zone

My husband and I had to laugh when we opened the mail one day recently and read the summary from our energy company. It read, “Your energy use is not in the efficiency zone.” Now, this didn’t come as a surprise considering we are a family of six. I run the dishwasher at least twice a day, the washer and dryer work overtime, and since I’m home during the day, the heating or cooling are almost always going. We cook most of our meals, I use the microwave to reheat my coffee ten times a day, the list goes on and on!

Of course, we save energy where we can and I think that’s very important, but with this many of us at home-this is just the way the cookie crumbles. The reason the notice from our energy company made us laugh is because there’s nothing like being bluntly reminded that you’re doing something inefficiently. Especially as moms, I think most of us try to operate as efficiently as possible for our family’s day to day lives to run smoothly. The thing is, no matter how hard we try to be everything and do everything, we often end the day feeling like we just weren’t “efficient” enough.

I knew I shouldn’t have done it, but I made a summer “to-do” list during the last week of school in June. The problem with lists (as much as I LOVE checking things off them!) is that when you don’t complete the objectives, it is all too easy to feel like you weren’t successful. At the time, my list seemed quite reasonable. Even though I’d have all the kids home with me, I wouldn’t have the chaotic rush-to-school mornings followed by a small window of time to run errands, do chores, squeeze in the toddler’s nap, and then rush back to school for pick up and everything that comes after. I truly believed I would have plenty of time to paint three different rooms in our house, clean out under beds, organize closets, update our years-old family photos on the wall, and keep up with the kids, house, and garden. Boy, has it been an inefficient summer for me if you go off that list! In fact, only one closet has been organized.

Is this a problem? Am I just an inefficient woman who bounces from one thing to another like the ball in a pinball machine? Do I get distracted running from one room to the other while trying to maintain some semblance of order in this sticky, Lego-filled, pillow forted, trim-dented place I call home? Would I just love to check off everything on that list and start the new school year with freshly painted rooms, updated hallway photos, and everything tucked neatly in its place? Absolutely! But will everything be just fine and will life still move forward if that doesn’t happen? Again, absolutely! As I realize that the likelihood of accomplishing anything on my list at this point is very slim, I know that all I can do is accept it. Sure, I could break my back and stay up late to get some painting done. It’s possible, but at what cost? It’s not going to feel very good getting some of this stuff done if I’m stretched too thin to do it well. Unless Mary Poppins herself arrives at my front door, (which would be AWESOME by the way!), it’s just not in the cards right now. At times, it can be tempting to let our to-do lists become overwhelming burdens. It would be so nice if all those things were done and I didn’t need to think about them during the school year, but I know I will tackle them eventually. I struggle to remember this, but just because I’m not checking something off a list doesn’t mean I’ve wasted my time. There will always be projects and chores. I think that it’s important to be wise with our time and to model that for our children, but we also need to show them that there is a balance. Sometimes we need to save things for another day and we don’t need to be disappointed in ourselves for it. I’m not perfect in any way when it comes to that balance, it is a constant work-in-progress for me.

Ecclesiastes 12:1 says “Time is precious and limited; our life on Earth is short. Let us use the time and opportunities that God has bestowed to us wisely for His glory.” We are called to be wise with our time. I don’t believe that means we literally have to be accomplishing a task at all times, even though some of us (definitely me!) have trouble sitting still when there are things to be done. God wants us to enjoy the life he gave us and also calls us to rest. Even in the making of sandwiches, the reading of books, and the finding of shoes, we are being efficient in meeting the needs of our family.

How efficient do you feel this summer? (and I don’t mean your energy usage) Did you make a list and accomplish everything on it? Or do you feel like you’re heading toward autumn completely behind and feel the weight pressing down on you? Whether it’s for a day, a week, or even an entire season, sometimes there are things we just can’t get to. As hard as it is to accept, I now find some comfort knowing the list is endless. That means we are free to do the best we can with each day the Lord has blessed us with, and that’s a beautiful thing! It really is.

I find that it helps to start my day with even a quick prayer before I do anything else. Whether I have a packed-full schedule or not, I often pray: Lord, show me what you have for me today. Help me not to be anxious but to seek you in all that I do. Give me the strength and energy I need to be a Godly wife and mother. Help me stay connected to you and honor you in my actions and words. Amen.

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Read more of Maria’s contributions to AllMomDoes here.