Upside Down and Squirrelly

By Hally Franz –

A pesky squirrel raided the bird feeder with amazing fervor and no shame. The squirrel in question was literally hanging upside down, tail wrapped around the branch above, imitating a flying trapeze act. She hung for several moments while hiding feed in her cheeks, and then after a frantic concealing of all the feed possible, turned right side up, took a breath and went back for more.

While hanging upside down may not be a feat for a squirrel, even a squirrel tires eventually. A full breeze kept the poor gal swaying during the whole hanging, grabbing, eating, flipping and breathing cycle. I’m going out on a limb to say this was a female squirrel. After all, don’t we women get ourselves in precarious positions when we’re trying to do too many things?

We try to manage schedules for the family, jobs, the household, volunteer commitments, and needs of children and spouses. We’re often turned around and a little crazy in our mad efforts to get it all done. Sometimes, there’s hardly time for a breath at day’s end before doing it all over again. I challenge you ambitious and conscientious women to step back and consider a healthier, saner way to manage in today’s world. By examining our situations and asking a few questions, we can slow life down, so we don’t feel like we’re barely hanging on.

Make a list of all your big and small activities and must dos. Examine your list and decide which items are important, based on a couple of criteria. Determine which chores give you the greatest bang for the buck in terms of your family’s welfare. Which tasks improve the lives of your family? Which cost you money, and which improve your finances? Secondly, and more importantly, ask yourselves which jobs serve the purposes of Almighty God. At the center of our lives should be the goal of preparing for a heavenly home for ourselves and those we love.

If you’re wondering whether a task is something worthy of your precious time or talent, consider if it’s meaningful to God. If you list “prepare for eternity” as number one on the weekly “to do” list, it should be a lot easier to make and complete the rest of your list, without having to stand on your head and go nuts!

PRAYER: Lord, grant me the discernment and wisdom to make good choices about how to spend my time and talent. Lead me to devote myself to those endeavors that You deem worthy to Your service and praise.

^“But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:40-42 KJV).

Today’s devotion is by Hally Franz. Hally is a former teacher and high school guidance counselor, turned homemaker. She enjoys volunteering at her children’s school, teaching Bible classes at her church, leading projects in 4-H, writing, reading, scrapbooking, and rousing (though, sometimes, not pretty) Zumba classes.