Another “word” About the Word “Busy”

Another “word” About the Word “Busy”

If you’ll scroll down and read my Pet Peeves Blog it will catch you up to speed about my passion, or I should say, lack of passion in the usage of this word.

I have searched the Bible and just can’t find many references to this word. Maybe they are there but I'm not finding them. I think as baby boomers we have adapted this word “I am so busy” into our common language to describe so many things and, if I may say, excuses. And I believe this constant term has an overall effect that is going to turn around and bite us. Our children hear us say it therefore they are adapting it into their conversations and relationships. My husband said it’s kind of like the song “Cat's in the Cradle” by Harry Chapin, where the father never spent time with his son who wanted to be just like him, but the father was so busy with other things, then when his son grew older the father wanted to spend time with the son, but the son had too many hassles, the kids had the flu and life had gotten just too busy. The song ends that as he hung up the phone it occurred to the Dad that his son had grown up just like him. His boy was just like him.

Do we want to teach our children to be too busy for others by our example? To be too busy for us? There is absolutely nothing wrong with being occupied with a task or many tasks of course and many can be stressful. But the words “too busy”, “I’m soooooo busy,” I can’t because I’m busy now” are going to be removed from my vocabulary. Now of course, these words have to be replaced with something more positive. I was thinking about the power of this word and control it can have over us, i.e., say I’ve got a lot of laundry to do and I say to myself “Oh gosh” I’ve got so much to do, “I’m so busy!”, well, I have immediately made myself tired and I don’t want to, nor do I enjoy doing the task! Same with cooking, cleaning, running errands, working, writing a report, homework, packing to travel, spending times with friends and the list goes on. Have you noticed when people constantly say "I'm so busy," the stress and tiredness in their voice? the strained expression on their face? Are we making ourselves this way like a "self-fulling prophesy?" Will we get to the place where we can't even function?

So how do we approach this ominous phrase or word? Brainstorm here with me if you please. Instead of I can't talk right now, I’m just too busy" and leaving it at that, how about “I am doing such and such right now, let’s decide when to get together and spend time together. Because when you say you're too busy you usually don't follow through. Aren't people supposed to be more important than that? Instead of being defeated by tasks under sometimes the martyrdom of being so "busy" and overwhelmed follow the advice of the famous old NIKE commercial “Just Do It!” I’ve got to stop here but I’m really kind of in to this NIKE thing. JUST DO IT. Period.

Constantly saying we’re busy can be just an excuse. Here as we go into the holiday season, yes things will get busier (see, I do recognize it as a word!), but if we’re just so busy all the time and this powerful word is constantly bringing us down, how can we really stop and appreciate God in all His glory taking the time to send His son Jesus to be born in lowly manger to die for the sins of man? With all He's got going He wasn't too "busy" to do that! He has had one thing on His mind.....us.

So are we too busy for the gratitude and celebration of that? I sure don’t want to be. What a blessing to miss out on over just being “busy.”

Have a great day!