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We’ve checked our hearts, we’ve greeted the day with goals, but what happens when the day just doesn’t seem to be going as planned?
We remember that peace can still be found when we allow ourselves “wiggle room.”
If you’ve read my series on Creating a Daily Routine, you already know that I am not fond of sectioning off a day by 15-30 minute time slots. I don’t do well in that kind of environment because it feels too boxed in. I much prefer a routine that is loosely based on times of day and order of activities. The times listed on my daily schedule are suggestions and guidelines rather than rules.
I know, if need be, I can adjust.
THAT is wiggle room.
But, why is this post entitled “Well-Ordered Wiggle Room?”
Because despite the fact I wholeheartedly believe you need flexibility, I also wholeheartedly believe you need order for peace to flow throughout your home.
Living life willy-nilly however you may please may seem free-spirited and wonderfully peaceful on the surface, but underneath all of that footloose and fancy-freeness, there is often found randomness that stems from an aimless life searching for contentment and peace.
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
Proverbs 29:18
God is a God of order, not chaos. He gives mankind guidelines and parameters to work within because He loves us. Ordering our day glorifies Him and shows our love for those in our household. Allowing wiggle room amongst the order of the day allows room for God to work and our family to act on those Works!
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~Mrs. J~ says
I too enjoy wiggle room, and here recently while trying to figure out a nagging medical issue – I have learned that wiggle room is a good good thing.
I have signed up for updates to be sent to my email (and the free menu plans) and have received nothing – am I doing something wrong?
Amy says
The links to the meal plans are in the bottom of each email. 🙂
Kathy Sykes says
I love this post because I am in total agreement with you on having your day AND life in “order” but this post has helped me understand the need for “wiggle room”. My husband says that I follow a schedule TOO MUCH and I need that flexibility. Yes, I do need that because life, as you said, does not always follow our schedules. Thanks for this and I love your site.
Amy says
Awww, thank you, Kathy! 🙂
Christin @ Joyful Mothering says
This is so true. Today was one of those days, so far. It’s not going how I planned – had a few set backs, but I’m picking up where I left off, adjusting my to-do list, and moving forward.
THAT is better than counting the day as a total loss simply because of a set-back or two. 🙂
Steph "Shine" says
I really have enjoyed reading your blog Amy. I have been blessed by many posts that God has brought to my heart. And I Thank you for writing!
I would like to add a request for respect of those who are not called to such “order and structure”. If we are being lead by the Holy Spirit in us, we can see the beauty of God’s variety. I know many, myself included, who have peaceful days(not always, no one does always) without “schedule nor routine”. We follow the natural rhythm God blessed us with:
When the sun comes up, or we just aren’t tired anymore, we rise for the day…our God created signals from our tummies tell us we are hungry for breakfast, same for lunch, same for supper and again we wind down for bedtime as the sun goes down and our bodies slow down…We then “do things” in between that natural rhythm, getting stuff done just not in any “specific order”. (A couple outside activities with scheduled times thrown in.)
My God given personality works best if not following a list or a schedule and my girls are happy, peaceful, content and learning. Our home stuff gets done (unless we scrap that stuff that day for building relationships). We enjoy life and have vision and purpose for God without schedule and structure.
So what some may see as “living life willy-nilly or as a free spirit” is “in rhythm and by the Spirit” for us and we praise and thank God for the ability to flow through our days with peace in the way God created us. Sadly trying to conform to what others say or do, I’ve learned that to schedule creates needless anxiety and frustration in our home.
While we have guidelines and parameters to work in life by God and within our family as a whole, we do not “order” our daytime hours by anything but natural rhythm and yet God IS glorified because He created us unique and allows those in our family to experience the beauty of simply living how God made us. And oh are my children loved and snuggled and cared for! For their age level, they also know how to get stuff done, get ready for appointments or activities when needed and enjoy their days through it all.
There are always other ways, others who do things differently and that’s not to say one’s right or wrong…God made such beautiful variety…we all (myself always included) could us a little reminder in Romans 14 and respecting God’s unique personalities He created to serve Him in many different ways.