Flexibility

How flexible are you? Do you cringe and panic when plans seem to change right before your eyes? This week has been one of those weeks where I have had to be very flexible. I am a "planner". I know what I need to do when I need to do it. I try to plan out my days and yet remain "flexible". Still, flexibility is not something that comes easy to me. I want to teach my girls to always have an open home and be willing to make changes if need be. I try to think before I "react". This week my oldest had a soccer team camp from 10-12 everyday. After the first day they came home with one of her team mates. This girl lives a ways up the river and her mom would drop her off at the field at 8 before she went to work and then couldn't pick her up till after work. Well, we just couldn't let her sit there in the rain, so we invited her to come here. So we added another member to our house from 8:00 in the morning till 5:00 or 6:00 every evening. Was that a shift in thinking and planning..? Yes. But we've made it work. I told my Kat that maybe this was just the opportunity to be Jesus to this young lady. She's new to the team and now has gotten to spend some time with Kat. She's even helped us paint. I've learned alot about her life and she's had a crazy life. I've had to change my plans a bit to help hubby at the property at times. I was called on last minute to help arrange a memorial service for a church members father who passed away. I have never done this before. All these things and a few more, were not on my agenda for the week. I could have chosen to just have a meltdown (I was close a few times, trust me...this isn't great timing ladies if you know what I mean (C:) But I decided that I want my girls to learn to be amazing hostesses who can go with the flow and make people feel special and truly know they're welcome in our home and not an inconvenience. I'll balance this by saying I let them know it's okay to have a moment of emotion or frustration over something but then we need to get over it and make it work. One thing I had to do this week when it came to food is realize that I just had to serve what I had and not worry about it. I didn't have tons of food to serve all these additions (we had other friends here as well off and on). I only buy enough food for our family and others if I know we'll have company. While the food supply is dwindling greatly and we don't get paid till next week, it's worked out and I'm having to be very creative (C: Yesterday morning we had German pancakes and bacon. Otherwise it's been toast or cereal. Sandwiches or leftovers for lunch and whatever they can find for snacks. This would b a great week to have a loaves and fishes miracle! So stop and think about how flexible or inflexible you are? What are you teaching your children by your responses to shifts in plans? I know I don't always respond the right way and I know that this has been a stretch for my girls as well. Kat is so tired, but I'm constantly telling her thank you for being such a good hostess. I grew up with our home being the hub of activity for neighborhood kids. That's the kind of house I desire to have. Filled with kids, teenagers, adults. Anyone just needing to be in a loving place. With Joy UNquenchable,

Comments

  1. Oh - this is so up my alley. I have a really hard time when things don't go as I "expect" them to go. God is definitely working on me in this area and I am thankful that some days I do better at going with whatever needs to be done. I am sorry that you have to travel to get to your property - I KNOW how that adds extra work. We had to do that for a while and I am very glad that we don't have to anymore.
    Bless you all for reaching out to this young girl!
    Shirley

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  2. Great post. I also am a planner and do not do well when things don't go as planned. But I am learning that many times things don't go as we plan. God has a different plan. I agree with your point about teaching our kids that there needs to be a balance. Thanks for the post.

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  3. I like to plan and feel organised too. I too am trying to be more flexible and have an open home. Having experienced some great hospitality from complete strangers over the past few weeks (folks at our new church who have embraced us immediately) I am feeling inspired, but I do struggle with the desire to be 'in control'.

    Kate

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  4. I'd like to think I'm flexible, and I think I am most of the time. But with me, I usually panic at first just because I'm caught off guard. Then once I have time to breath, collect my thougts and think about it, everything is ok, and I can go with the flow. I just wish that I could skip the panic part and go right to the flexible part! I'm working on it though.

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