To Live Life or To Live a Schedule

I recently heard the following comment: "There are two types of families. One whose schedule revolves around life and one whose life revolves around a schedule." I know as my kids get older and start showing interest in activities that the temptation is to overbook our life. I know it takes intention to keep life at the center of life. It is so easy to allow the schedule to consume life. I think it takes wisdom and prayer to know when to say "No" to a good thing so we can say "Yes" to the best thing.

I am one for keeping a schedule - my kids need rest and too many outings in a week produces chaos in my house so... we do follow a schedule of sorts already. Right now our schedule is not over the top but a schedule can consume you by what you don't do. I see how easy it is to be consumed by a schedule of order, so that I don't break the rhythm of our day too. Going on outings during the scheduled nap can be a little trying on us and I've also said many "No's" to a better thing because I didn't know if I was up for the interruption to our schedule. Either err is not beneficial. It is important to LIVE life and not just plan life. I fight the urge to plan and keep order and not interrupt but I am learning to relax and LIVE! It's much more fun to get out of our box and see the world than to stay bound to a nap.

This 'type of family' comment really jumped out to me and my prayer is that our family remains a source of life for us and doesn't become a rat race. We aren't in the over-scheduled world yet and I pray we find the right rhythm for our family - a life giving rhythm and not always running a race that never ends. I also don't want to stop living for fear of life interrupting the easy schedule either. Such a balancing act but I want to live a full life that keeps living interesting.... not predictable and safe nor do I want to become so busy that we do not have time to enjoy anything because we are always running. Both extremes would be a sad choice. Oh for wisdom to keep life balanced so that it produces life and not regret.