Living With Life’s Interruptions

We all sat around the table with books spread out, pens in hand and ready to learn. Optimism twinkled in my eyes. This was going to be a productive school day!

Then the phone rang… and it all went downhill from there.

Hours later, a string of unexpected situations culminated into an exhausted and defeated me staring into the glaring white paper of my empty lesson planner.

Nothing accomplished! Schedule foiled again!

A sigh surfaced from the depths of who I am and who I long to be.

“That’s it!” I murmured. “Tomorrow, I’m setting the answering machine, I’m not answering the door and no matter what, I’m sticking to my schedule!”

I comforted myself with the new plan.

But there was a tugging on my heart…

On the surface, the plan seems like a good one, right? Eliminate the interruptions.

But think about it, interruptions are a part of life. Whether it’s a telephone, a doorbell, your wet sock that signals your sick dog has vomited for the third time on the newly shampooed carpet and you’ve stepped in it AGAIN! Or a child who innocently needs an extra bit of your time, some things just can’t be helped. And the truth is, it’s not the interruptions that are the problem. Most of the time, it’s our response to them that’s problematic.

Perhaps we focus on goals instead of needs, give priority to time slots instead of relationships or fail to recognize the valuable lessons interruptions can bring.

If you think about it, Jesus’ life was one big intrusion fest. Within those few precious years of His ministry on this earth, most of His days (and nights) were filled with, what we’d call, constant interruptions. Everywhere He went people followed always wanting, always asking, always needing Him. Yet, it is the way He responded to these “intrusions” that we learn so much about love and compassion.

These interruptions became the means of us seeing Jesus live out the lessons He taught.

Does this mean we shouldn’t schedule at all? Or that there’s no use in planning? No, we should do what we can while remembering the bigger picture.

We can’t control what takes place in the world around us but we can control our responses to these situations. We can die out to that part of us that says unchecked boxes = failure. The part of us that measures what we do to validate who we are. Instead we can cling to the One who gives us grace to handle every day and everything that comes with it (with love and compassion too!). We can recognize that every moment is a teaching moment and is truly a gift from God.

Miyoshi

Miyoshi is a wife and mother of four children living in the beautiful countryside of Germany. In addition to homeschooling the last two chicks remaining in their nest, she is also a counselor dedicated to helping others live their best life. You can find her blogging at www.rockstorubies.com