Tuesday, August 14, 2012

PRIORITIZING: 1, 2, 3 OR P, P, P……..


8/14/12 A friend has been praying for me about this somewhat frustrating area of my life. Keeping focus on what’s most important. Setting my priorities and matching my actions to them. So…..maybe I need to try to “do something” about it. That was my first “wrong” thought. I’ve been trying for years. Making lists. Checking twice.
I have learned to say “No” more often.
Actually, I’m no better since I retired at getting “it” all done. Grocery list is in order by areas I transverse, if transverse can be a verb. I know I try to keep from back tracking and re-crossing all those aisles. Even coupons are compiled ahead of time. Errands are listed in order of proximity to said route as well. All of this to save my time in order to have more time for the priorities in my life----and yet the planning tends to wear me out. Priorities take a back seat to the “required” or the urgencies.
Second wrong thought was my new alliterative method so I could be sure to choose the best out of all options that daily present themselves. I, at least, have come to the conclusion that I can’t do it all. I might even have to give up my crossword puzzles. OUCH!

Pick out most important areas to cover.   (Might need to give up good stuff in order to have time for the best.)
Ponder all the options.  (There are so-o-o many options mixed with the daily urgencies/requirements.)
Pitch those that don’t make the cut. (Does that mean giving up what gives me pleasure??)

This pithy list looked like the answer.

But God…..showed me that the best “P” was omitted---PRAYER!

How can I ponder anything apart from that basic????

So, I’ll “pitch” one more list/method and get back to the basic. I’ll email my friend, Betty Ferrell, and thank her for prayers, hoping she’ll keep praying and not give up on this slow “prioritizing” learner.