Help
With Your Rule
Being Flexible and Avoiding Rigidity
Dear Holly
I've been getting up late the past few days. I'm pretty tired because there are many things on my mind right now and I've had trouble sleeping. The problem is that when I get up late, my whole schedule is mixed up and I feel like I've blown it for the entire day. What do I do in this situation?
Labels: 2nd P Person, About a Rule of Life
posted by Holly at 8:07 AM
1 Comments:
Life is full of ups and downs. There are going to be days, perhaps weeks, when it will be impossible to maintain the 'perfect schedule'. I know there are times when I just feel it is too much, or that I need a personal break - this alone can mix up a rule. Then, I mellow out for a day or two, get a little change, and attend only to basics - resuming my full schedule when I am ready.
We are in this for the long haul, and our efforts must take this into account. Rigidity in our rule will only harm us and our family atmosphere - we've got to be flexible. Remember, the schedule aspect of a Mother's Rule is only a tool to help us fulfill our duties and train our wayward hearts to do what we ought, to do what God asks. But the deeper and most important part of the rule is the heart of it - why we are doing all this in the first place - out of love for God and family.
Mother Teresa of Calcutta told her sisters to focus mostly on the spirit of the rule - the relationship with God and underlying principles. This is where our hearts need to be. That out of twenty years we might find ourselves sleepless for a week and a bit off-track with when supper is cooked makes not much difference, does it?
In these situations, have patience with your human limitations. Ensure that your basics are accomplished before you spend too much time in leisure, for example. If not following your rule becomes a norm in your life, you will need either to simplify your rule to meet your real personal circumstances, or pull up your bootstraps - but not fret when 'life is life'.
Post a Comment
<< Home