Priorities and Privilege {Imperfect Moms Day 30}

“Mom? I was just wondering…would you like to go out on a date sometime soon?”

That was from my sweet young boy, who is growing up more and more every day. I can’t say my “little boy” anymore, as he already towers over me at the age of 12. But his heart is still young and tender, as is his desire to spend time with his family.

I’m embarrassed to tell you that I didn’t offer a resounding “Yes!” to his proposal. It wasn’t that my heart didn’t want to. But I caved to the lies I was listening to in my head.

“You don’t have enough time right now.”

“You have too much to do!”

“You’ll have more time soon.”

I couldn’t bear to tell him what I was thinking, but I was torn and racked with guilt.

“Lord, what should I do?” was my silent plea for wisdom.

Even as I was forming the words in my mind, He brought a verse to mind: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34).

Within moments pictures started flashing in my mind:

-the moment he was born and I held him in my arms
-my son at two yelling at the geese at the lake “Go way geese!”
-walking him into school his first day of kindergarten years before, which felt like only weeks before
-just a few months prior he was delighted on his birthday to finally be taller than me
-his older brother entering high school
-his older brother now driving
-his older brother now spending more time with friends, at home less as he starts to spread his wings

In those moments, the Lord showed me both where my priorities need to be, and the privilege it is that my not-so-little boy still wants to spend time with me. I will never look back on my life and wish I had worked more! But more importantly, I never want to look back and wish I had spent more time with my children. The time to do so is now.

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens” (Ecclesiastes 3:1).

My current season? A time to prioritize my children while they are still children, and train them up to be Godly young men.

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).

Our relationship to God and our perspective on Him is so very often determined by our relationship with our earthly parents. More than anything, I want to communicate to my children that I love them, I accept them, and I want to spend time with them.

The “to-do list” will have to wait, for I am convinced that there is enough time in every day to do exactly what God wants us to do that day whether it be going on a “date” with our children, helping a neighbor, volunteering at church, or resting in Him. That’s a lesson I want to model for my children.

Hope Prevails,

Dr. Michelle Bengtson

About the Author: Author, speaker and board certified clinical neuropsychologist, Dr. Michelle Bengtson is also a wife, mother and friend. She knows pain and despair firsthand and combines her professional expertise and personal experience with her faith to address issues surrounding medical and mental disorders, both for those who suffer and for those who care for them. She offers sound practical tools, affirms worth, and encourages faith. Dr. Michelle Bengtson offers hope as a key to unlock joy and relief—even in the middle of the storm. She blogs regularly on her own site: http://www.DrMichelleBengtson.com.
For more hope, stay connected through Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest & YouTube.

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2. Grace for When You Blow It
3. Invitation to Join the Imperfect Mom Confessional Series
4. Momma, Stop! {Imperfect Moms Day 0}
5. Show Me a Perfect Mom… {Imperfect Moms Day 1}
6. He Is My Children’s Heavenly Father {Imperfect Moms Day 2}
7. Comparing Blog Life with Real Life {Imperfect Moms Day 3}
8. Finding Humor & Meaning in Motherhood {Imperfect Moms Day 4}
9. Imperfect Mom {Imperfect Moms Day 5}
10. Wanting to Feel Like a Successful Mom {Imperfect Moms Day 6}
11. A Call to Action: No More Perfect Moms! {Imperfect Moms Day 7}
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13. Be Still {Imperfect Moms Day 9}
14. Let them Eat Dirt {Imperfect Moms Day 10}
15. Perfectly Perfect Imperfection {Imperfect Moms Day 11}
16. She Burnt Them Again! {Imperfect Moms Day 12}
17. 4 Perfect Ways God Shows Us How to Love Our Children {Imperfect Moms Day 13}
18. Called Blessed and Being Praised {Imperfect Moms Day 14}
19. I’m Doing What I’ve Always Wanted to Do, But…{Imperfect Moms Day 15}
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27. Learning to Trust the Lord with Your Children {Imperfect Moms Day 23}
28. Lessons for “Those Days” {Imperfect Moms Day 24}
29. A Letter to My Younger Self {Imperfect Moms Day 25}
30. Keeping It Real {Imperfect Moms Day 26}
31. Same Grace {Imperfect Moms Day 27}
32. Overcoming the Working Mom Guilt {Imperfect Moms Day 28}
33. See Jesus.  Savor Jesus. {Imperfect Moms Day 29}
34. Priorities and Privilege {Imperfect Moms Day 30}
35. My Children Are a Picture of Grace {Imperfect Moms Day 31}
36. When God Messed with My Plans {Imperfect Moms Day 32}
37. When the Imperfect Mom Gives to Others {Imperfect Moms Day 33}
38. Handpicked by God {Imperfect Moms Day 34}
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