Live Ready

A friend completed his Eagle Scout project this week, so scouting has been on the brain. The scout motto is “be prepared.” As a planner, this resonates! What did Jesus say about being prepared? 

“Blessed are those slaves whom their master finds alert when he returns! 

. . . Blessed is that slave whom his master finds at work when he returns. I tell you the truth, the master will put him in charge of all his possessions. 

. . . From everyone who has been given much, much will be required, and from the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will be asked.”

Luke 12:37a, 43-44, 48b NET

In other words, be ready. Live ready. Take advantage of every moment, of every opportunity. 

We have limited time and opportunity; we cannot afford to waste any of them. 

What does it mean to “live ready” as a mom? At minimum, it’s a mindset that acknowledges the precious gift of responsibility we have been given. We have been given much—little lives to steward! It means creating an environment where our kids can thrive. It doesn’t mean Pinterest perfect moments every day. It doesn’t mean perfect housekeeping. It doesn’t mean we won’t mess up. Rather, it means adopting a “with-Jesus-I-can-do-this” attitude that recognizes the immense importance of training up a child. It means accepting our own worth as individuals and the value of the tasks we have been given. It means protecting our children and our homes. It means linking arms with other moms who have the same mindset and encouraging one another. It means pointing our kids to Jesus every day. It means being proud of our calling and stewarding it well. It means taking care of ourselves so we are best fitted to take care of others. 

How did Jesus care for others? Luke records one example:

“Now Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And there was a woman who for eighteen years had had a sickness caused by a spirit; and she was bent over double, and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, He called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your sickness.” And He laid His hands on her; and immediately she stood up straight again, and began glorifying God.”

Luke 13:10-13 NASB2020

Jesus interrupted his teaching to heal a woman. He stopped what he was doing when he saw the need. It didn’t matter that healing on the Sabbath went against tradition: He put the suffering of the woman ahead of teaching and tradition. He was not concerned about the opinions of others. He chose to put people over procedure. 

How can we put our people over our procedure this week?