It seems we’re pulled in a hundred different directions everyday. And it’s true we will fail somewhere. But ideally we’re not failing in the same spot every time, and we must consider the long-term cost of neglect when we do.
For instance, we have to work to eat and live. And this often means we’re spending several hours a day focused on work and not the immediacy of our relationships. Much of this is normal and expected. But it can also easily get overextended – hyper-focusing on work that our relationships essentially become neglected.
Even here, for a season or two, we might have to endure a more intense grind in our work – to finish a project, make a career change, or the like. But we cannot expect our relationships to thrive when they remain neglected season after season.
There’s truth in the saying, use it or lose it. Atrophy sets in for things we don’t regularly exercise and use. And this is true throughout our life and relationships.
For example, our marriage suffers and we become mere roommates when we don’t regularly invest in our time together. We also can become strangers to our own kids when they only see us for the occasional few hours. Likewise, the impact we were called to make through our talents, gifts, and abilities will also be diminished when we’re not regularly exercising our strength.
Of course, we should offer ourselves grace and not burn out trying to accomplish everything perfectly. But we must also be mindful not to neglect the important areas in our life. We forfeit the peace and harmony of our own souls when we do.
In the end, be kind to yourself when natural limitations keep you from giving your full attention to everything. But don’t let this become an excuse to neglect the important matters in your life. Keep showing up here for your sake and theirs.
Photo by Natalya Letunova on Unsplash
