The Better Gain

The entry from several years ago I will re-write; it is titled "priorities":

I have been trying lately to stay steady with my wifely duty routines following the chores I had written on the chart which I mentioned in the entry “Making Wifely Duties a Routine Habit.”  And I was able to add one thing to a day on my weekly chart this last week.  It was a simple thing.  But the idea of this chore addition was the turning point for realizing that I need to set priorities.  As I thought about it and realized that the absence of this chore is more availing of the time I have, priorities have called that I consider referring to the chart as only a “guide” for now, reading the list with a “grain of salt.”  I am not so bothered if this chore is not a priority.  I felt other things needed me more this week than to bother with the pettiness of doing what I felt I had been compelled to do before.  Cutting out a toilsome obligation has given me a sense of single-mindedness toward what ultimately leads to peace.  This has redeemed so much time, and I have been able to get ideas accomplished more rapidly.  Keeping priorities ahead of me keeps me pressing on toward the peace that I get from having such flexibility.  I may be able to keep up with that chore I added last week for other weeks, but right now, it is not a priority, and other things are calling.

 The re-write.
I notice I wrote about peace and flexibility.  This I realize now is not so important in the physical realm about chores and habits.  It is more important I realize now in the relationship in my marriage with my husband.  I read a book a long time ago about Dreams.  I cannot remember the name of the book or the author, but I do remember the message of the book.  The message was that sometimes a person will have a dream or desire, and God will answer it in a way we do not expect, but He will answer it and give you what you ask, just in a different, surprising way.  The desire of my heart in the first "Priorities" entry was to know and learn flexibility and peace.  At the time I wrote them, I felt I could achieve these through have certain consistent chores and habits.  The best types of peace I know now is through the peace God gives.  I can't control God.  I can't make the peace come my own way.  I realize that through God's way and plan, his commands, I can have peace in my life.  It is simple, not through stressful goals to achieve consistent habits.  No, God looks on the heart.  Do I have a peaceful heart?  Do you?  Your and my heart is revealed through our mouth.  Panic and stress ruled my days a few years ago and most the time my mind, when I didn't talk much, thinking, "I gotta do this... I gotta do that..." Talking kindly to my husband and children and others shows the better heart than a stressed heart from thoughts of having to do lots of things.  Relationships are the most important thing, and if I cannot speak kindly to my husband and children, there is no point, no gain in doing lots of things in a stressful way.  The better gain is kindness out of my mouth.