Happy Tax Day!
If you're anything like me, it's more like "Oh,Lord did we finish our taxes" day. I am the queen of procrastinating. My excuse is that I truly try to enjoy life and don't want to waste time in front of a computer screen or a bunch of papers trying to make sense of taxes. Blah. God bless accountants.
This is why God gives us all different gifts, right?
Which is why I finally buckled down and paid someone to do mine for me. To use their love language to its potential. In the meantime, I will work on being more hospitable. (AKA throwing parties and cooking. )
Before I took the leap to get an accountant, to make this particular part of my life less painful, I became very good at my "mis en place"for taxes: gathering all of my tax documents, purchasing TurboTax (or sharing an account with mom and dad), and laying it all out neatly on the table, but I became very bad at actually sitting down and doing it.
I can't help but think of my quiet time in the same light. I've got my small group book (No Other Gods), I've got my bible (app) and color coordinated pens to mark, draw hearts by phrases, and underline like crazy. But in no time, my book quickly becomes covered in magazines, shopping bags, and/or the TV remote.
Now that I'm a mother of a sweet 6 month old, quiet time is a precious commodity. And it amazes me how quickly I will fill that time with things that will distract and entertain me momentarily but leave me empty moments after. Whether a laugh from a TV sitcom or some online shopping to fill up my wardrobe, I find myself constantly filling my precious time with junk. And I like that junk. That junk is fun. But my soul needs real nourishment. Not junk.
So I set a challenge for myself, and I'll challenge you too. Before I pick up the TV remote, magazine, or step foot in Target, I will spend some quality time with God. I won't procrastinate. And I bet I'll end up filling my soul with lasting goodness instead of the junk that will leave me wanting more.
As for my taxes, I think my accountant deserves some fresh baked cookies...don't you?
"Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?" Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. " Isaiah 55:2
