Yes, that’s right. I said, Ugh!

Boys built a bridge to the rock out back. Good for the soul.

Work, be still, work, rest, sleep (enough but not too much), exercise, work, celebrate, be merry and work. Yes, its all in there. In between Genesis to Revelation, its all in there. Do it all. (Thankfully, so is drinking wine but its best to limit that to the celebrating and being merry part.)

Doing it ALL in the correct proportions is the hard part. That’s why I Ugh!

I’ve been discussing this with my son lately because of the beast which I call electronics. I am not against the use or enjoyment of TV, computers, video games and the such. In fact, I think, like food, it is necessary but hard to control. As a mom, I feel like I’m constantly beating this beast with a stick to get it out of every single crevice of our lives. What I want for my kids is to be able to be in control of it, not to be controlled by it.

They are 7, 5, and 2. I’m not sure how realistic this is but trust me, I am giving it the best I got. Recently, my 7 year old ended up on a 10 day fast of electronics. It was not by his choosing and some might call this a “restriction”. We’ll save face and call it a fast. It was a great exercise to enforce what I have been teaching him.

Time is a more valuable asset than money. Its the only thing you can’t get back but it can give back. I’m teaching him that time can be used to produce skills, invest in relationships, and nurture your soul. These are things that will give back to you. But time used on TV or video games is pure entertainment and will have little to no return. It needs to be proportionate.

It’s fine, for most, to watch TV or play video games. Be merry. But who is in control? On his fast, he kept telling me. “Mom, I feel so much more balanced.” He was paying attention and beginning to learn by feeling the effects on his soul. There were also a couple moments he was in pure agony (scary!) wanting to play for just a few moments, symptoms of breaking control.

He is developing the skills to understand the concept of time. While he is learning to speak the language of time, I want him to learn right. To understand there are always temptations, HOW to manage them and WHY time usage is important. There is a world to be reached and when this connects in his heart, I want him to have the tools to take action.

• HOW- set boundaries on “temptation” time users, have accountability/mentors, prioritize effectively in order of importance, allow for creativity and thinking, nurture your soul with contact to the outdoors and relationships

• WHY- life is too short to not do what you are here for: which is what you love mixed with what you are gifted for mixed with how you got here mixed with who you are. Figure out your why so that the world can benefit. I promise, living in your why is even more entertaining than your favorite TV show.

In coaching people how to speak, we always say you get a topic because you have mastered it or because you need to work on it.

I think God has me teaching my son in order to work on me. I can’t just allow life to happen to me. Trying to balance being a wife, mothering 3 children, laundry, cleaning, cooking, friendships, mentorees, being a presence at our office, serving at our church, traveling (and what feels like a mountain of tasks I do every day that I don’t even know I did that have no evidence of being done yet had I not done them every one would know)…makes life feel like it controls me. Its too much.

But there’s so much more that I want to do. How do I connect the two?

I finally heard some wise counsel yesterday. It simply said, get some help! Truthfully, its the same tune my heart has been humming. I just couldn’t give myself permission. Someone else does and I’m free to move.

Its time for me to get others to do what they can. So I can go where I’m being led. Yes, there are people that I can partner with who are energized by the tasks that drain me. There are people who are happy to be a part. It’s time for me to better manage what time God has given me.

As the wise counsel said, the moment in destiny is coming. Its a lot easier if you start now, be faithful in preparation and use the on ramp. Friends, I give you permission.

Below is a sampling of us getting loopy during the “fast”. WARNING: Its a home made video, including messy den. DOUBLE WARNING: I never said we are a normal family.