My eyes popped open at the sound of my husband’s alarm.
5:15 a.m.
What?
Panicked, I looked at my own clock. What had happened to my 4:30 a.m. alarm?
“Not on Aqua Zumba day!” I whined. Loudly.
Had it been any other workout day, I merely would have conceded my inability to work out. But I go to bed on Aqua Zumba Eve excited for my alarm. I simply love this pre-work, water workout. I did not want to miss…
And so I streamlined my morning routine — and managed to get the essentials done in 30 minutes instead of the hour and 15 minutes the tasks usually absorb. I didn’t think it possible, but I was able to leave just a few minutes later than usual; I figured I might be just a minute late for class.
I pulled out of my driveway and saw Charlie waiting at the end of his.
Groan. But did I roll down my window and yell “Sorry, Charlie!” while barreling down the road toward the health club? Did I pretend I didn’t see him and drive past him?
No. I rolled down my window and stopped.
“You’re late!” he said, cheerfully. “I can set my watch by you — and I knew something was up when I didn’t see the lights come on at your usual time. You are running late.”
I agreed. Smiled. Chatted and laughed with him — and enjoyed the time; then I drove down the road at a conservative speed. I now was going to be an additional 30 seconds late to Aqua Zumba — but I would get there, and I was OK. I had streamlined my morning routine and found myself frantic free.
However, as I went through the day — noticing how long my tasks were taking and the load of them I still had before me — the pressure began building, and I started stressing. I ruminated on all I needed to get done by Friday’s graduation and knew I would have to work days and evenings. In addition to being on the school administration with tasks leading to the high school graduation ceremony, I had my own son’s graduation celebrations and home to prepare for our guests. How could I possibly get everything done?
By the time my husband and I went to bed, I was wound tightly.
“I’m so stressed!” I confessed.
We talked about it — my husband offering solutions like picking up dinner the nights preceding the event so I could clean rather than cook. But I still wondered how I could get it all done.
Then I reached over to set my alarm and remembered the alarm I felt when I was awakened by my husband’s clock rather than my own that morning. I then thought of my morning routine — still completed though compressed by the loss of 45 minutes. How had I done it? I had set priorities, streamlined the tasks, and felt frantic free.
And I knew that God already had answered my wondering.
The next morning in my devotions, I read some verses that confirmed it:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).
And so it is.
All Things Work Together 