I cruised through a lot of my life as I may have mentioned before. I didn’t feel the need to be motivated to achieve much as I felt I already had it in me to complete whatever task assigned to me by just exercising my natural talents and abilities. This worked a great deal for me in the past and set up a precedent that was very, very hard to break.
For example homework at school. I know that it was due in and that it had to be given the proper time for it to be done to the appropriate standard. I knew that. Yet I didn’t really bother putting that much into homework at all. That I passed school and university remains one of the most graceful acts god has ever done to me.
There were occasions though at least for nominal value when I would have to to tell the friend or two who would pop round to ask me out to play, that I couldn’t go out because I was busy doing homework. That really annoyed, me obviously because I wanted to go out and play, but I had homework to do, so had to get on with it. This only motivated the rushing to complete the homework, rather than embracing the merits of doing things in good time so as to avoid future heartache. In any case, the jobs were done and I also ensured that if there was anything else that needed doing, all that was done, so I could go out and play.
Years later and homework takes on a whole new meaning for me. Homework is down the hard work of establishing and building essential relationships with the family. – with the precious daughters collectively and individually. The same extends further in my relationship with my wife where unlike the other parties, the wife is about to fully engage with whatever the conversation is on and offer really useful advice.
Other forces can come into wreck the effort and some well-meaning causes have threatened to undermine the most relationship. So now I recognise the value of homework but not in the way that my old school would necessarily support.
Like the state of the front door. As never before we are part of the neighbourhood and the doors of Dryden residences have always encouraged friends to come over and spend some time with us. I’ve never been like that before, so welcoming and hospitable. Yet as part of the homework it was about building that atmosphere where people saw a genuine family going about its business without pretext and full of love. That was brilliant to contribute towards, all because I spent a bit more time on my homework.
Now it’s at the stage where other competing issues can be easily fobbed off, because I’m too busy doing my homework. As I see god’s pattern for family, home and the household I know that this is the right step for me to take at the moment and uphold that as a key priority from which all else can flow.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
dmcd
Life With CD 