Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Organized? I don't think so.

About a week ago I got an email from the lady in our ward who plans Relief Society Activities (formally known as Enrichment which used to be homemaking). In this email she asks me if I would be willing to speak to the group about organization. She said I had been recommended as someone who would have something to share.

I laughed!

Me talk about organization and about getting our lives organized? Wow.. wrong person!

I of course said yes because I have a problem with saying no. I just had no idea what to talk about since I have no systems that work. My house is not run on a schedule. I don't have meals planned out and baked for the month sitting in the  freezer.  Most of my days are spent juggling all the different parts of my life and hoping it all turns out alright. I had nothing to share with a bunch of other ladies of a variety of different ages and situations who all could tell me a thing or two that I know I am not getting to and not doing.

So......

I decided to talk about Wisdom. What does Wisdom have to do with Organizing our lives?

First of all, I have been reading and studying about the topic quite a bit over the last few weeks. After reading the Duggar's latest book A Love that Multiplies I was inspired to read the book of Proverbs in the Old Testament.  Proverbs was just quoted a number of times throughout the book and I realized I had never really studied that particular book so I decided to give it a go.  So a few weeks ago, around Christmas time actually, while the rest of the Christian world was reading about the birth of Jesus I was reading Proverbs. I was reading about the Savior's birth too but in my personal study time (when I could fit it in) I was reading all these wise sayings attributed to Solomon. I was even taking notes and writing in my new Scripture Journal. This is something new for me and so far I am enjoying it.
Don't look too closely at what I wrote mostly it is just quotes from the scripture and then my little thought about it. Nothing very profound but a good start, since this is a new way for me to study.

So anyway... for a few weeks I have been reading all these great thoughts about wisdom and what a wise person is and what they do and don't do. 

As a result, I have the topic of wisdom on my mind and since organization isn't my strong suit I figured the change of topic would be more applicable to the ladies of our group. I tried to tie it into organization.

I shared my list of attributes that I had gathered from the book of Proverbs, used to describe a Wise person.

A wise person is

Reverent (Fears the Lord)
Has Discretion
Has Understanding
Teachable/ Humble
Willing to be chasened
Merciful
Truthful
Pleasant
Confident
Safe
Just
Diligent
Hard Working
Prudent
Balanced
Lowly
Upright
Full of Integrity
Slow to wrath
Friendly
Kind
Sincere
Abides Satisfied
Blessed
Merry
Pure
Generous
Courageous
Virtuous

I also shared a few of my favorite Proverbs

Wisdom is the principle thing; therefore get wisdom; and with all they getting get understanding. Proverbs 4:7
 Wisdom is needed in all aspects of our life. Wisdom comes from God and we should consult him about everything we do. So if we are struggling with something and lack wisdom then we just need to ask. He will share his wisdom with us.
There is no Wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord. Proverbs 21:30

 We need to choose what we walk with, who we walk with and what we bring into our lives. We need wisdom to determine if what we have in our schedules and lives is worthy of our time and not a foolish waste.
He that walketh with wisemen shall be wise; but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
Proverbs 13:20
 Life isn't going to always be easy. We are going to have hard stressful times and yet we need to not wallow in it. But be faithful and find the joy in the journey we are taking.
He that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.
Proverbs 15:15

So it wasn't a lesson on organization. In fact it wasn't a lesson at all. It ended up being more of a spiritual thought. Thanksgoodness I wasn't the only one scheduled to speak!

To even illustrate how disorganzied I am. I arrived late to the meeting. I thought it started at 7:00 and arrived 5 min early so I could quickly run to the copier and have a handout but when I got to the church the meeting was already underway (evidently it had started at 6:30) and it was my turn in mere moments. So no handout and I was a bit flustered because I had rushed to get there, only to be late.

I guess this only proves how funny it is to think of me as organized. My brain and schedule are zipping around bouncing from topic to topic and place to place with no rhyme or reason.  I guess I need a little wisdom in my life to sort things out so my juggling act doesn't come crashing down around me.

4 comments:

Bibliophile said...

On the topic of organization, you should have consulted the Fly Lady at flylady.net. She has the perfect routine for being organized and ready for anything. I have been trying to follow her for years, but I am not so good at it. I DO get my bed made every day and I clean the bathrooms and do other things, but I find that tossing things and de-cluttering are very hard to do. It looks like you did a good job, though.

An Ordinary Mom said...

Just what I needed to read today ... WISDOM. I think if we are wise we will indeed be organized because we will best know how to use our time and where our priorities lie.

I just called to that calling, the additional RS Meeting Coordinator (such a mouthful to say!) ... to bad you aren't near me to teach.

By the way, I love the list of wise attributes you posted!

Alison said...

You did a great job. I really appreciated your message.

Desiree said...

I would be the wrong person to ask about organization as well. I think people view me as super organized because I homeschool, and so surely I must have it all together to even think about homeschooling, right? Nope, I'm a lot like you, I just take it one day at a time and hope for the best. Good topic!