Leaving it to the last minute

I enjoy being an organised person. I like to have lists and make plans. I find having a list motivates me to get things done. Every week, I plan out my meals before I do my food shop. At christmas time I have several lists written, ranging from; kids presents, stocking fillers, to christmas dinner food and snacks etc. When the kids were smaller, I used to have a list written for each one for packing to go on holiday. I found this made life so much easier for me. It always feels like I have too many thoughts going through my head when I have things to organise, and I can’t think clearly. I feel a bit like Professor Dumbledore in Harry Potter, he had a ‘pensieve’ that he used to store all his old memories in so that he could clear his head. My notepad and pen is my ‘pensieve’!

Meanwhile, Calum likes to have the house organised if we are going away. He likes the bedrooms all sitting tidy, house hoovered and he has been known to wash out the fridge too before he will pack the car 🙊!

Usually in October we go on holiday with a large group of friends made up of christian families from various churches. Sadly, this year it had to be cancelled due to the current restrictions. During August, we decided to book a holiday with two other families, in a large house in Yorkshire. Again, we had to cancel it when the restrictions got tighter 😢. We decided maybe our October holiday wouldn’t happen this year and it would be another week at home. I was convinced anyway that over the holidays there would be a travel ban and we wouldn’t be allowed away. However, as the holidays got closer and closer the kids and I thought it would be really nice to get away together. (well 5 of the kids, 1 of them hates change so he was not up for it at all!) Calum decided it would be nice to get away, if we stayed at home then we would just find some more D.I.Y. to do and before we knew it the week would be over. So, very unlike me, I booked a little cottage for us the night before we were due to leave 😱! (out in the country to avoid covid as much as possible.)

There was no time for any lists or organisation. Clothes were shoved into cases, food and essentials packed into tesco bags. Normally I’d research the area, know exactly where the nearest food shops are, have a list of things to do. This time my only requirements were wifi and washing machine. Taking 3 teenagers away for a week to do nothing, we really needed wifi or there was going to be a lot of moaning. I wasn’t organised in the slightest so there hadn’t been any new pjs bought or nice new pants and socks for everyone. Due to lockdown no one has really been going anywhere so clothes haven’t been replaced when needed, there are a few pairs of jeans that could easily be mistaken as ‘ankle grazers’ so a washing machine was essential! (It’s also not much of a holiday for me if I have to go home after a week away with washing for 8 people for 7 days 🙈😧😰!)

It’s amazing how quickly we can get things done when we need to. Everything was quickly packed ready to go in the van, the house was hoovered and bathrooms cleaned. Dog got a quick bath, a request from my mum if she is watching her for the week and the other pets were all cleaned out ready for us to leave them. By this time our son had had 24 hrs to get his head around the idea and he was beginning to become bearable to be around. When we went to France last year it took him 2-3 days once we got there to relax and start to enjoy himself, we hoped this week it wouldn't take him quite so long seeing as we weren't leaving the U.K.! He has inherited my dislike of change and Calums fear of leaving his comfort zone, poor boy 😬.

The van was packed to the brim. We left our house and I hoped for the best. I hoped the cottage would be suitable for us and also that everything we needed was packed in the car. I don’t think my anxiety even had the time to set in!!

This year my eldest two sons didn’t sit any of their exams because of covid. I’m sure there were many children in the same predicament as them. My oldest son has never really studied too hard for his prelim exams. He usually doesn’t do too well and that gives him the motivation to stick in and study harder for his final exams. Calum and I were not very studious so we can’t really say too much!! However this year that didn’t really work out the way we expected. The “leave it to the last minute” attitude was no use because, for the first time in history the exams were cancelled. In March as the news broke to teachers and pupils, it quickly became apparent that it was too late to start studying now. It was too late to begin giving the best of their ability.

Sadly a lot of people today have the same attitude towards a relationship with God. They think that it would impose too many restrictions on their lives and therefore choose to live their life without God, with the expectation of seeking Him at the last minute. Sadly the reality is that none of us know when the last minute will be. Amos 4:12 says: "prepare to meet your God!" This is of far more vital importance than being prepared for a mid-term family holiday or even for end of year exams. The bible illustrates this in a sad story about 10 women that were waiting on the arrival of a bridegroom. It was dark, so they all needed an oil lamp to see. 5 of the women had planned ahead and had enough oil to last the evening. The other 5 didn’t bring any extra oil with them. The bridegroom was delayed and the 5 foolish women had to go off to buy some more oil, they were ill prepared. Whilst they were gone the bridegroom arrived and took the other 5 women into the marriage feast and shut the door. When the other 5 arrived the door was closed, they weren’t allowed into the feast, they hadn’t been there to greet the bridegroom on his arrival and therefore he said he didn’t know them. It’s a sad story about the consequences of not being prepared to meet God. We are the women in the story, either ready to meet God or not. The bridegroom is a picture of God. If we aren’t ready to meet him then there will be no place for us with Him. No amount of hoping for the best will change that.

You might think, ‘well thats a rather sad blog, where is the hope in that story?’ The reality is, God wants you to plan ahead, not leave it till it’s too late and hope that everything will be ok between you and Him. God wants to make it right with you today. I’m reminded that the bible says “the right time is now. Today is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6. You only need to ask Him. One man in the bible asked ; “what must I do to be saved?” Peter replied to him “believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you WILL be saved!”