When Your To-Do List Makes You Hyperventilate
Do you ever scratch out your to-do list, but then are afraid to look at it because there are just so many “to-dos” to get done?
“Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men, knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ.” Colossians 3:23-24 (HCSB)
I grabbed my mango-mint iced tea, a spiral notepad and pen and headed to my backyard deck.
Settling myself into a lounge chair, I began to tackle the chore that was before me: writing out my to-do list for the week. Although my notepad was whimsical and my pen was laden with bright purple ink, these organizational objects couldn’t cancel the dread I felt about having to think it through, write it down and then execute the many tasks before me.
My life as a wife, mom, worker, daughter, neighbor, church member and friend brings me much delight. I get to watch my son play football, help my adult daughter look for her first house and work on projects with others that I love and believe in.
However, my life also brings me lots of “to-dos”: Purchases to make. Closets to organize. Paperwork to complete. Phone calls to return. Research to be done. Pots and pans to scrub. Kids to shuttle. Parents to check on. And on and on it goes.
Sometimes — when I get my list all scrawled out on paper — instead of feeling energized with a game plan, my emotions go into panic mode. I’m almost afraid to look at the list since it seems monumental. While most of the tasks in and of themselves aren’t too difficult or time-consuming, when viewed as a whole, they seem like a massive mountain I’ll never be able to scale.
And then, on top of the panic, I also start to pout. My mind starts looping the “poor me” soundtrack that results from just looking at my list.
Poor me … I have to mop the floors.
Poor me … I have paperwork to finish.
Poor me … I have to drive and get groceries.
Poor me … I have to run my son to practice.
Poor me … I have to work on the computer for a few hours to finish this project.
Poor, poor, pitiful me!
Today’s key passage addresses this “poor me” mentality by giving us a fresh perspective as we go about our work: “Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men …”
Three words jump up at me as I stop and ponder this verse:
1. Whatever.
Whatever I do. Not just the tasks I enjoy, or the work that brings me recognition or the duties that I find also fun, but WHATEVER I do is to be done …
2. Enthusiastically.
Enthusiastically is defined as “done lively and with great interest; wholeheartedly, sincerely, energetically and earnestly.” Hmmm … I’m not so sure that describes my attitude as I tackle the “whatevers” on my to-do list. How about you?
3. Lord.
It is the Lord himself we are serving as we enthusiastically check off our “whatevers.” Not a husband. Or kids. Not a boss or the committee chairperson. We are serving Jesus Christ Himself as we work.
How about we hit the re-start button when it comes to taking our lists from “to-do” to “It’s done!”? Let’s not panic. Or pout. Rather, let’s loop thoughts through our minds Colossians 3:23 style.
In other words:
I don’t have to clean my house. I get to clean my house — because I have a place to call my own, while many are homeless or displaced. And I am serving the Lord Jesus as I clean.
I don’t have to fill out this team permission slip. I get to fill it out — because my child is healthy enough for physical activity and has caring, volunteer coaches who give of their time. And I am serving the Lord Jesus as I write.
I don’t have to drive and get groceries. I get to do this errand — because we have enough money to purchase provisions and we own a car, so I don’t have to walk. And I am serving the Lord Jesus as I shop.
We don’t have to. We get to. And thanks be to God that we do.
Father, thank You for all the to-dos on my list. Help me always remember that I am working for You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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If you’d like more encouragement in the area of tackling your work with enthusiasm, check out my friend Glynnis Whitwer’s book, Taming the To-Do List: How to Choose Your Best Work Everyday.
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Cleaning the bathrooms and dusting!
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As a pastor’s wife, I seem to be always doing, usually outside my home. So when I’m home, I’m usually planning and preparing. So my have to is housework and putting effort into it instead of halfway getting it done.
I have to work daily with parents who are in crisis and don’t seem to appreciate anything. this should be I GET TO work with parents and show them God’s love even when they don’t realize what they are seeing at the moment.
Thank you for this new way of thinking!!!!
doctor appointment
I need to put away all the “stuff” that had to get out of the four bedrooms because we had new carpet installed. I should be grateful that we have “stuff” or get rid of it.
I needed to read this today. Lately I grumble a lot. My life is so busy between working at school, running our
home, running our home office for my husband’s business, running my teen daughter to practices and attending her soccer games, trying to find time to visit my daughter and 2 year old granddaughter who live 3 hours away, checking in on my parents, and attempting to be involved in my church. Help!! You have provided a great reminder today. Thank you!
What a great reminder and a perfect way for me to keep everything I have to do in perspective. My to do list is really a list of chores of things I am thankful to be part of my life- so when I have to go out of my way after work to buy wedding shower or baby shower gifts which gets me stuck in traffic I will say a prayer I have friends in these great times in their lives and that to thank God we are all able to celebrate these occasions.
I’m not a breakfast person or morning person so I get grumpy right off the bat with demands of wanting drinks, food, TV shows, covers on the couch, etc … I’m so blessed to be a mama of 3 boys and should be grateful that i get to be home with them everyday to do these things for them. I am the first thing they experience each day! I “get” to serve my children in the mornings!
Cooking! I used to enjoy it, but at some point it has become a “dreaded” event and not a “get to.” Thank you for the reminder and a fresh perspective!
This devotion came to me when i needed it the most, which is exactly how God works! I have been complaining about everything on my to do list from work to school to missions meetings and church obligations. The never ending to do list it seems. I now have a new perspective on things. Instead of i have to go to work, i get to go to work. when so many people do not have jobs, I am thankful for both jobs that help put a roof over my head and food on the table. Instead of i have to go to school, i get to go to school to continue my education so that i may teach the next generation. instead of i have to go to this meeting or teach the children at church, i get to go on a mission trip to be the hands and feet for God and i get to teach the children at church just how much God loves them!
Thank you for this timely reminder as school schedules start back this week. I appreciate the reminder that I get to take my children to their extra curricular activities and I get to clean a home that I’m fortunate to have and make dinner for my wonderful family. Thank you!
I can’t stand to clean. I love it when it’s done, but dread doing it.
Going to work. We are going through a major company change and it’s chaotic and not very rewarding right now. Rather than dreading it I should be thankful that I have a job with an income that supports my family comfortably.
My house….. Cleaning, organizing….. I see it as a mountain….. How do I gain control. 1- Looking at it though different glasses. With “I get to”. 2- narrowing the view of the glasses to. small areas rather than the entire house.
For me it is the everyday tasks. Cooking, cleaning, laundry, making the beds, doing the dishes. I sometimes use the excuse that I’ve been doing these things for over 35 years and I just don’t want to do them anymore! But I want a new perspective, I’m serving the Lord and he has provided richly for my family!
I have so much house cleaning to catch up on!!! I need to get up EARLY, and remember that all my actions are in loving service to the Lord. Thank you.
My to do list seems ever ending, I absolutely hate cleaning the stove top and the bathrooms. But i also never get around to doing little things that my kids ask because my list seems to never get to that point…..I feel like I’m failing my family by not being able to get to it =(
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Decluttering, Decluttering, Decluttering. Oh, and emptying the dishwasher! I’m 60 years old and I actually bought a chore chart for myself for the refrigerator, WITH STARS, ?
Doing the budget. Money has always been my biggest stresser but I GET to do the budget because I am blessed to have a husband who works hard so I can stay home with our kids and I need to be more grateful for that!
I can change my attitude to one of gratefulness by thinking “I am thankful I have nice clothes to wear to a nice job,” instead of I have to do the washing and ironing again!
Yard work, especially pulling weeds, is one of my dreaded chores. I love how it looks when it’s done but am easily overwhelmed by the time I get out there.
My dreaded things on my to do list are cleaning my pet’s huge cage and apply for jobs. I am in a transition in my life where I am trying to move from Fulltime seasonal jobs to permanent full time jobs but it seems daunting at times. I work 14hours a day and some weeks there is a lot of physical elements involved so by the time I get home I’m extremely tired. So it makes doing anything after work a dreaded task at times.
Alyssa, I just came through an eight month job hunt so I know how you are feeling. Keep praying and trusting God! He will come through! I have a wonderful job now!
The area I need to work on is the daily chores of caring for my home/family after a long days work. I desire to see my to do list as Gods to do list!