Put Off Procrastination

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A Merry Heart Prescription

Playtime & Rest

14 Sep

Surely one reason the Lord gave this procrastinator a wonderful otter daughter is because I needed to learn to play. I needed to lighten up. She was His prescription for me. (Our Otter Daughter, September 6, 2015)

“A merry heart does good like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.” Proverbs 17:22.

A merry heart is healthy physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. A child, husband, friend, or colleague who has a merry heart brings sunshine into our days. I love those people!

Truly, I loved our daughter’s otterness even when she felt I didn’t. I just felt so RESPONSIBLE for getting things done I was afraid to pause and play. I had to learn.

At last, I began listening to our daughter’s encouragement to lighten up. It helped spending time with certain friends – a mother and daughter who both love to play and enjoy each other. Thank you, friends!

It was hugely helpful to recognize that I carried a wrong and unhealthy sense of responsibility. Yes, as a wife and mother I had – and have – certain duties. But I thought it was my responsibility to make everything in our family turn out right. That was a burden God did not put on me.

No wonder I didn’t have time to play or to tolerate children playing when I thought they should work. We had to get things done! Again, that burden was not from God.

A broken spirit dries the bones. There’s life in that marrow where blood cells are made. I think I broke some spirits in our family by mishandling the pressure I felt.

Recognizing a difference in goals and desires helps. With a goal I have control over the factors that make a thing happen. With a desire I do not have control over those factors. I could teach my children about the Lord, but their trusting Christ was between them and His Holy Spirit. I could feed my children healthy meals and teach them good hygiene; I cannot protect them from all disease. (See Goals and Desires, March 2, 2015)

Finally, I saw the burden I had wrongfully taken on myself by trying to make everything turn out right. I saw how I had affected our family. What a relief to let that burden go!

I became open to a merry heart. I could play and rest. Thank you, Otter Daughter! Thank you, Lord! I’m still more beaver than otter, but that’s how He made me. Even a beaver can have a merry heart!

What can you release in order to open yourself to a merry heart?

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1 Comment

« Our Otter Daughter
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Comments

  1. Mary Roberts says

    September 21, 2015 at 8:02 am

    Wow! This brings back memories of when my children, now 31, 30 and 28, were little. Often the house was cluttered with toys, shoes, and books from one end to another. I would declare “Penny Pick Up!” and we all would rush around picking up and putting away as fast as we could. Each item would count for one penny and I could hear counting from all around the house. They were yelling encouragement to the youngest to keep him motivated. When the house was picked up in a matter of minutes, each would tell me how many pennies they earned. I would put that amount in a jar and when there was enough money in the jar for a trip to Dairy Queen.

    Waiting is often hard for little ones…and adults, too. Wiggly impatience can become cranky whining so I would sing Mr. Rogers’ song, “Let’s Think of Something to Do While We’re Waiting”, and after the initial “Mommmmm!” we would make up a game, tell riddles…whatever struck our fancy. Usually by the time the waiting was over, we were smiling again. As they got older I would remind them to grab a book to read if we had to wait. This was before everyone had a cell phone and I think back to those “good old days” with some longing. Sometimes I will break out in the Mr. Rogers’ song even now when we are together, just to see the smiles and hear the “Mommmmmm!” again.

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BETH STERNE
Welcome! It's great to have you here. I'm a follower of Christ and a learner of new ways. By His grace, I am gaining victory over procrastination. This is where I share struggles I face and lessons I'm learning. Join me and other sisters as we put off procrastination and put on peace.

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"Beth’s procrastination talk led me to understand procrastination as a heart issue in need of God’s restoration not just a change of my ways. Beth’s personal experiences helped me discover practical ways to attack my own procrastination. As a result I have become a more loving wife, mother and friend who is able to use the gifts God has given me more fully. I highly endorse this talk and would love to hear it again and again."
https://putoffprocrastination.com/testimonials/julia-f/
“Beth’s presentation on procrastination was truly eye-opening. I knew I had a problem with procrastination, but never thought twice about how it impacted my relationships and showed God that I wasn’t onboard with His plan. I began to see each instance took away from being fruitful; I was living for myself! After this revelation, I have been working on procrastinating less. I can see places opening up in my life for more peaceful moments, more time with and for friends and family, and more time for God’s plan to unfold. It’s amazing to know there’s more to life for me than a life full of “should haves” as a result of procrastination.”

Carole S.

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Carole S.

“Beth’s presentation on procrastination was truly eye-opening. I knew I had a problem with procrastination, but never thought twice about how it impacted my relationships and showed God that I wasn’t onboard with His plan. I began to see each instance took away from being fruitful; I was living for myself! After this revelation, I have been working on procrastinating less. I can see places opening up in my life for more peaceful moments, more time with and for friends and family, and more time for God’s plan to unfold. It’s amazing to know there’s more to life for me than a life full of “should haves” as a result of procrastination.”
https://putoffprocrastination.com/testimonials/carole-s/
“After Beth came and shared about procrastination, many realized that it is possible through the Lord's power to stop putting off what God has called us to do. One mother finally started a blog and another posted a ladies; tea for her church months in advance so that ...she would not put off having it. Although I thought I was not someone who procrastinates, I realized I had some relationships that I needed to work on. Procrastination, I learned, is not just about getting things turned in on time, it's about listening to God and doing what He says to do when He tells you to and obeying God's Word.”

Rebecca F.

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2018-08-16T14:43:28-04:00

Rebecca F.

“After Beth came and shared about procrastination, many realized that it is possible through the Lord's power to stop putting off what God has called us to do. One mother finally started a blog and another posted a ladies; tea for her church months in advance so that ...she would not put off having it. Although I thought I was not someone who procrastinates, I realized I had some relationships that I needed to work on. Procrastination, I learned, is not just about getting things turned in on time, it's about listening to God and doing what He says to do when He tells you to and obeying God's Word.”
https://putoffprocrastination.com/testimonials/rebecca-f/
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Beth Sterne - Put Off Procrastination
Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise! It has
no commander, no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.
Proverbs 6:6-8
... you have put off the old man with
his deeds, and have put on the new
man who is renewed in knowledge
according to the image of Him who
created him.
Colossians 3:9-10

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