Day 4: Rest & Responsibility

“Because God has made us for Himself, our hearts are restless until they rest in Him.”

-Augustine of Hippo

 I long to be in God's rest. I even climbed under my desk today at work for a moment of silence, of connection with God. Then the phone rang...

My days seem frenetic, my work and my home activities governed by impulse and what comes to mind that I have to act on now or I'll forget... rather than a "sound mind". God has built me for more than this. 
 Luke 21:34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with... the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap."

Distraction. I want to be guided by God but distractions seem so important. Once again, I'm not actually free like I thought I was. I'm slave to that which isn't solid. To circumstance...
A mind that prioritizes distractions is from a life philosophy that doesn't truly value personal responsibility. When distractions are important, being on time isn't, being selfless isn't, being poised isn't, being prepared isn't.  

I was on both of my big kid's case tonight about accepting the natural consequences of their actions. To Jadon, not getting his homework done means explaining to his teacher the truth that he was warned, yet played instead. Elie had all day to pick up her room to have the opportunity to go to the hospital if Mommy has a baby, and she chose to play. Although Jadon's consequence is minor, Elie's is potentially big (we reserve the right for a "grace pass"). But... they both went to bed feeling the weight of their choices. 

The kid's consequences are minor but if they don't learn now to face the pain of a choice, they'll end up like me, getting forced to face much bigger pain and without the practice on the small stuff. Without really facing and having to stand in the pain, no lesson is learned. A bailout, only heightens the probability that the poor behavior will occur again and the natural consequence with arise again, only this time, with perhaps graver ramifications.