Excuses, Excuses

I've been in the classroom alot this year subbing, but occasionally I get to play secretary. Yesterday was one of those days. Part of the "job" is to fill out tardy slips when the kids are late. Some days are not very eventful in that area. Yesterday there were quite a few tardies. Some are ordinary "true" reasons for being late. Some, however I have to chuckle at. Here are a few I've heard. The excuses are "better" if mom and dad aren't standing there...kids tell more than you care to know sometimes!

1. I had to finish my homework.

2. I had to feed my dog.

3. My mom was mad at my dad.

4. I was too tired and couldn't get here on time.

5. There was a bad wreck.

6. I was too tired and I was dreaming about CANDY. ( Got that one yesterday from a second grader)

7. I might have had a tummy ache? ( like it was a question, not a fact)

8. My breakfast was good and I decided to finish it.

9. Our car was broke. My mom said to say it was the battery.


I'm not judge or jury, just the messenger to the teacher of why Little Johnny or Little Susie is running late for their class. I actually just mark "tardy" and let the teacher decide how to mark it. I'm a whimp.

Makes me think of all the excuses we had to our Lord. "I can't do that because...." , "I'm not talented enough", "They don't need me ..they already have so many people" ( Who does the calling? If he wants us in a place, he'll make a place) "I don't have time" ( And I know there are legitimate time restraints....I'm learning that now..but can all do "something" even if it's just one something and we do it with our whole heart.)

David's mother will be here Thursday for K-5 graduation. Of course, I'll clean my house. Daniel loves to clean...no joke.. He cried to my mom one night because " mommy and daddy made him stop cleaning the play room because it was bed time" ( the kids ain't normal!!!) Sean however has 100 reasons why he can't clean. "It makes me too tired"..."my hands will hurt"...."It's just not fun" ( translated: it's work and I don't like work) He will let Daniel do all the work and then jump in to pick up the last train or the last puzzle piece just to take some credit.

We are like that as adults. Do any of us really like to labor? I don't often see how "evenly" the pick up the toys job was distributed between my children if I'm off in another part of my house working. We are foolish to think God doesn't see what we do or how much we don't do. We get our feelings hurt because "no one will help" or " someone gets more recognition. I'm learning that the "applause of men" pales in comparison to the approval of my Saviour.

In Ecclesiastes we read. "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might;

Everyone has an area they can blossom in. Find it and do it well . I think some of think that if we work our selves to the bones and take on this and that and more this of that , that somehow all of our activity gets God's attention. Might I submit that I think maybe quality and effective for his kingdom may mean more in a few jobs done well that a bunch of "sight jobs" ( others "seeing" us "busy") that are not nearly as effective. When I taught in NC in third grade my dear friend Ann who team taught 5th and 6th grades had a Gerbil or Hamster in her classroom ( sorry, Ann, a rat is a rat to me and I don't know the difference between a gerbil and a hamster, or a mouse or a rat for that matter!) but it was in a cage.(except for the days it escaped and would hide in the janitors closet) I think it had one of those wheels it ran around it. The thing seemed to enjoy that, but he really wasn't accomplishing much except maybe some "rodent exercises". That wheel never took him anywhere. I don't want to get caught up in "doing thing" to the point that I'm like that animal on the wheel...spinning round and round, never making a dent in the Kingdom and just running to make "motion and draw attention" to myself . I'm praying, even this week, that I choose the areas of service that "He" wants for me so that I have a goal at the end of my service, and I'm not just kicking up dust or spinning my "wheel" making it appear that something is going on with my service when really it's not.

I don't know what God has for you to do. Sometimes he gives me a job that's more in the "limelight". Other times he gives me jobs that no one has a clue I do. Those are fine too. I just want to keep my "duties" in perspective and do them well for his glory.

The founder of the University I attended used to say " A job worth doing is worth doing well"...
I have some work to do in a few areas.

What about you?