Not Now . . . But How About Now?

Seasons of life. That’s what it so often comes down to. I can’t do this thing now, even though I know how good it would be for me, because . . . reasons. My own experience of it is mostly as a stay-at-home mom to many, but I’m sure it’s equally applicable to folks in all walks of life.

Maybe it’s daily Mass, or saying a family Rosary each night, or exercising regularly, or making time to meet a friend for coffee every week. Whatever it is, I’ve taken a look and decided I can’t manage it right now. And let’s assume, for argument’s sake, that I really can’t. Not right at that moment.

But how often am I reassessing? How often do I look interiorly with right priorities?

When Jesus arrived at the home of Simon Peter’s mother-in-law, she was “afflicted with a severe fever.” (Luke 4:38) Clearly, she wasn’t up to making dinner for everyone. But once she was healed, she “got up immediately and waited on them.” (Luke 4:39) Immediately! Not once things settled down a bit. Not after she’d had a chance to relax a bit and catch up on some things around the house. Immediately. Because Jesus and family are her priorities.

I’m often guilty of realizing I have some extra time to pursue projects or hobbies or leisure before I realize that I have time to invest in things that are really important. Maybe now the baby’s nap schedule means I can’t get to Adoration. But what about in a few months?

The First Reading reminds us that we bear fruit and grow as we come to know God's graces. (Colossians 1:6) Being open to priorities set correctly and God's grace in our lives means we can get back to doing the important things as soon as possible, even if it’s just for a little while before schedules change again, or somebody lets a bunch of crazy loose in the house.

What are you not able to get to that you know you should or want to? And how often do you reassess if you can actually do it . . . now?

Take time to reassess.Click to tweet

Kendra Tierney is a forty year old mother of nine and wife of one living in and working on a big old fixer-upper house in Los Angeles. She's a homeschooler and a regular schooler and is counting down the days until her oldest turns sixteen and can take over some of the driving! Her new book about living the liturgical year in the home is in the editing process. You can find her first book, A Little Book About Confession, here, her blog here, and her word art here.