Time to Read?

It amazes me at the frequency that people ask me the following question:

When do YOU have time to read?!

So tonight I am going to answer that question.  The simple answer is....because I MAKE time to read.  Reading is important to me.  I love to read.  I need to read.  If I am going to teach my kids I need fresh inspiration.  I need to read.  If I am going to keep from being overwhelmed, I need a break to rejuvenate and focus my mind elsewhere.  I need to read.  If I want to glorify God I need to be setting time aside.  I need to be reading.

Obviously with a thousand obligations, it's easy to allow reading to fall by the wayside.  I admit that there is ALWAYS something that is more pressing that could be done...like...
      --folding laundry
      --marking Math
      --tweaking lesson plans for the next day
      --cleaning the house!!  (you would not believe how far behind I get on this one!)
      --writing letters
      --'playing' cop, judge, jury and warden all day with kids
      --book reviews or Bible Study lessons
      --making meal planning lists
      --ironing
      etc etc etc!!!

In the past I have fallen in this trap of working away the 'to do' list completely before allowing myself the opportunity to read.  That is probably the most discouraging thing I have ever done to myself.  I was discouraged and depressed and still never, ever done.  I determined to get back to spending a little time in a book everyday since it really makes such a difference for me.

So here are some practical guidelines I follow to make this happen:

1) I don't read when my kids are awake.  I believe they deserve my full attention.  Also, I believe the 12 hours that they are up is a sufficient amount of time the Lord has given me to get the daily work accomplished that He has placed before me.  I need to be working those hours and making the MOST of my time.  And to be frank, my days are very, very busy.  I am always, always running.  I do not sit still.

2) I start my day by reading.  I am happiest this way.  Before breakfast I sit in the office and read the Word of God.  Currently (if you're interested in specifics) I am following a reading plan that brings me through the whole Bible in a chronological order.  Right now I'm in the book of Jeremiah.  I read 2-5 chapters every morning.  Then I read a short devotional by Jonathan Edwards found in a book entitled 'A Journey Toward Heaven.'  If something profound has caught my attention I will write about it in my journal.  Otherwise I settle down to pray--trying specifically to pray about something I have read in the Scriptures this morning in addition to 'regular' requests and praise.  I never turn on the computer until I have finished devotions.  This is very important for the world will quickly consume our devotional time through avenues like facebook or e-mail.

3) My whole day is orchestrated in such a way that when the kids go to bed the dishes are done, the main living spaces are tidy and I am able to settle down for the evening.  When the kids go to bed, my day aught to be done as well.  Some days this requires running hard all day--especially on days when I am teaching school, driving to piano, and finalizing catechism memory work.  (Yes, Wednesdays are TOUGH for me)!  As a result, some days I am feeling pretty ragged.

4) Aside from Bible Study, Kid's Disciple's Club and nights when we have company, evenings are usually left open and I will spend a portion of that time reading.  If you must ask, I am currently reading selected sermons by Thomas Boston and another book called 'Escape from Camp 14' by Blaine Harden.

I know that if I do not prepare for a time to read it will not happen.  This means working hard all day to have free time time at night.  It means saying 'No' to company sometimes.  It means getting up a little earlier in the morning.  It means not allowing yourself to become enslaved to an endless list of obligations.  It certainly means a lot of self-discipline at times!  I have to jealously guard these times as it can quickly get gobbled up by many things and even well-intentioned people.  But I recognize that if I don't read regularly I will get burned out.  And I'll get crabby.  And I'll lose perspective.  And I'll turn into a crazy workaholic.  And how is God honoured in that when He Himself tells me to rest in Him?  (I've actually done a small personal study on the topic of rest--and what the Bible has to say about that--perhaps another blog post). 

So the answer to the question 'Where do you find time to read?'

I MAKE time.  I make time to receive refreshment and blessing.

It sure makes sense to me!