Put Off Procrastination

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“Can Your Dad Come Out and Play?”

Holidays

18 Jun

Former procrastinators, I hope you had a good time and joyful memories as you celebrated Father’s Day.  I celebrated the great value in a dad who played.

Growing up, our family would be at the supper table on summer nights when the doorbell would ring.  “Can your dad come out and play?”  The group of neighborhood boys and girls standing in our yard were not asking for us kids.  They were asking for the most fun dad they knew – ours.

We all loved to play chase games.  The favorite was “Ain’t No Boogers.”  (Yes, that’s correct.)  We kids would skip nervously around our front yard singing “Ain’t no boogers out tonight.  Daddy killed ‘em all last night!”  Then suddenly… ROOAAR!!  Out from behind a tree, monster-dad would swoop in among us, arms raised high as he chased us all around.  Coins, keys, pens flew out of his pockets.  (He learned to remove those before he went out to play.)  What screaming and squealing, dodging and taunting!  Soon some poor victim was captured, swept up by the monster.  “Do it again!  Do it again!”

I can’t tell you where the crazy game or words came from.  But I can tell you many decades later friends and cousins still chant the words and laugh about how much fun that was.  Fun makes an impression.

Daddy was a serious thinker and a hard worker, but he made time for play.  Mother saw the value and went to extra trouble so we could make happy memories.  For example, Daddy would come home and say, “Let’s cook out!” Carting things to and from the yard was more work for mother and us kids than cooking inside.  But it was worth it.  In a chef’s apron and a tall white hat, Daddy flipped burgers and pancakes with great fanfare and pronouncements of his expertise.  We teased that it took him so long to get food on the table we’d eat anything.

At the beach, we went out only before 8 a.m. and after 6 pm because Daddy was fair skinned.  And he had to be there.  He acquired huge inner tubes from Caterpillar trucks. Four of us could fit in one of them with room to spare.  Riding the big waves was so much fun!

Nobody laughed harder than Daddy when the joke was on him.  One night in an open field we sat with several families around a campfire.  Daddy excused himself to go to the woods.  It was pitch black so he disappeared as soon as he stepped away.  Moments later we heard “Aaugh!” and a splash!  Daddy emerged from the dark dripping wet.  He was henceforth the “Creature from the Black Lagoon.”

Sometimes fun takes a little extra work like changing plans or coordinating.  Let’s not put off play because of that.  I’m grateful for a dad who played – and for the memories and inspiration!

How can you help the dad in your life have fun?

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4 Comments

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Comments

  1. Mary Roberts says

    June 18, 2018 at 8:06 am

    Beth,

    I do love these stories about your daddy. He was a gem and one of the most loving men I know. He always made me feel so welcome as soon as I walked into your house and his humor was unmatched! He left such a loving legacy for so many.

    Mary

    Reply
    • Beth Sterne says

      June 18, 2018 at 2:58 pm

      Thank you for saying those things, Mary! Daddy was always glad to see you!
      We were blessed with great parents.

      Reply
  2. Kim Wood says

    June 18, 2018 at 9:21 am

    Beth,
    Wow. This was meaningful to me! Often, I don’t take time to play. Thanks for the reminder!
    Kim

    Reply
    • Beth Sterne says

      June 18, 2018 at 3:02 pm

      Thank you, Kim. I identify with you. Play is refreshing for heart, mind, body. We can be more productive and creative if we remember to take time for it. But play is good for its own sake. Enjoy!

      Reply

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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."

Julia F.

Beth Sterne - Put Off Procrastination
2018-08-16T14:42:31-04:00

Julia F.

"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.

Beth Sterne - Put Off Procrastination
2018-08-16T14:42:59-04:00

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.

Beth Sterne - Put Off Procrastination
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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