Tweaking the "Regularly Scheduled Program"

I find the summer delightful: a break from all of the "normal" routines, swimming outside, maybe even a vacation.  With my personality, however, after too much non-routine, I'm so ready for it by the time the fall rolls around!  You?  We cranked up our school year yesterday and I wanted to share a little something with you to encourage you as you begin the new school year:

Now is a great time to make a change,

if you feel like things need to be shaken up a little!

We got into the habit long ago of letting our kids watch a television show every day upon waking up.  Sometimes if they got up at different times, it would be two shows.  As I thought about this earlier in the summer, I was disappointed with myself for letting our days start like this, wishing we could do it differently.*  Then my brain says to me, "Um, you and Colin are the parents, you get to decide how the household is run." And I replied to my brain, "Oh wow!  You're right.  We can change the routine if we want to, especially if it moves us in the direction of our real priorities."

Day 1 of the 2012-13 school year

Now, you may be quicker than I am on the uptake.  Yes, you probably are!  In the preceding months, I could have spent less time lamenting my failure to make the mornings what I wanted them to be by taking action.  Times of transition - the new year or a new school year - are great opportunities to reevaluate what's going on in your life and what is important to you.  Then make the necessary change or changes.

I know we're not ultimately in control of our destinies; that's God's job.  He does call us to faithfulness, however.  And often those little nudges or irritations in our mind and soul are an indication that it's time to take action; the Spirit is prompting.  I wonder what that might be for you?  Are you making any small or grand changes in your personal or family routines this fall?  I love how the Proverbs challenge my passiveness (okay, let's call it what it is, laziness!):

The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.

Proverbs  13:4

Go for it!  Make a change!!

*For the record, there is nothing wrong with morning television.  But it was bothering me, so I know it needed to be addressed in our family.  I'm offering this as an illustration of the theme of this post.