Perhaps you, like PeaceBang, are looking at the week ahead with some alarm.
“Holy cows!” you say. “I kind of forgot about that lecture I’m giving on Wednesday night over at the neighboring church 30 minutes away. I agreed to do that presentation for the Andover-Newton class on Thursday night. And then, gosh, what if the funeral director in Rockland can’t get the part-time pastor to do that Thursday morning funeral and I really do wind up with that on my schedule? Hmmm. Thursday isn’t going to be sermon-writing day, that’s for sure. I’ll be lucky if it’s “Wear Socks That Match Day.” Oh yea, there’s that downtown Boston visit I really need to make tomorrow, and a couple who wants to meet on Wednesday, which means that I really should be done prepping my covenant lecture TONIGHT, really.”
And you go on like this until you work up a big head of anxiety steam and before you know it you’re squawking and flapping like a demented duck.
Well, duckies, here’s what PeaceBang does when the week threatens to squash her.
1. Clean the kitchen. Really. Get rid of crap on the counters, fill the water jug, make some herbal iced tea and a pitcher of iced coffee. Refill the dog’s kibble container, empty the garbage, make a casserole and lay in some healthy snacks. You won’t have time to do those things later in the week. Sweep the floor tonight.
2. Do the laundry. Iron some key items so that you don’t have to wrestle that white blouse all over the ironing board when you’re in a real hurry.
3. Clean out your purse and re-organize it. Charge your cell phone. Make sure you’ve got breath mints, aspiring/Advil, hand sanitizer, lipstick, eye drops, a powder compact and fresh hankie in your cosmetics case.
Get $50 cash in small bills so you’re not flinging your ATM card around like a monkey incurring mindless little expenses all week rushing around. Stash a small notebook and plenty of pens in a side pocket. Tuck in your Bible.
4. Fill the gas tank. You’ll thank me for this later.
5. Make social plans with friends for Friday night NOW. You’re going to need them.
AFTER you have accomplished all of these things, and only then, tidy up your study, update your calendar, carefully plan for everything you need to do (including walking the dog, sleeping, exercise, eating meals in a semi-sane fashion), make some notes, send a few e-mails, take a deep breath, and turn off the computer.
Go draw yourself a bath, give yourself a facial, scrub your feet, shave your legs, and get a good night’s sleep.
You will arise the next morning feeling ready to do your work. Serve well and faithfully, and let God make it happen through you.
This is awe inspiring!
But I have to admit, if I did all this stuff, I wouldn’t wake up in the morning. I might not wake up for a couple of days!
I love this for when you can see the crazy week coming, but sometimes you just gotta grab that bar on the roller coaster car and hang on, you know?
Signed,
-BTDT
(been there, done that)
🙂
[Oh GOD, yes!! But it is such a gift when we don’t have to do that! – PB]
Wow- this sounds so well organized.
I can´t do that if I face a busy week.
But I´ll try to follow some advices.
“Squawking and flapping like a demented duck.” OMG I can so relate to this…thanks for the belly laugh PB!