Consider Her Ways

A few days ago I was seated on the ground.  After  a few minutes, I looked down and saw many ants scurrying around me.  Intrigued, I watched them.  They were moving very , very fast.  As they approached me on the their way to who knows where, they would not go over me (thank goodness); they went around me, their obstacle. 

Yesterday as I read Proverbs 6, I read this, Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.  How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man. My mind’s eye went back to watching the ants the other day.  They didn’t stop and say, “Oh, a little more sleep, please.  Just a few minutes more of my sweet slumber!”  They had a job to do, and they let nothing stop them. 

If we are told in Scripture to consider the ant’s ways, then I believe the Lord wants us to learn from the ants how to be good workers. 

• Keep moving.  Stopping for a little rest in-between jobs to check Facebook or what’s new on Pinterest will slow your progress.  Save those things for after the work is done.  If you’re working outside the home, keep moving until it’s time to clock out and go home.  Being lazy is a poor testimony.
• Don’t get distracted.  You’ll stay focused on what you need to do if you write down in the morning what your tasks are.  There’s a feeling of great accomplishment to cross off an item on a list and move on to the next one.  For years I used this planner by Linda Dillow.  I’m so sad that it’s out of print now. 
• Plan for the future.  Think ahead to what needs to be done by tomorrow or beyond and work ahead of time.  Rather than scurrying to finish things up tomorrow, get it done today.
• Prep food ahead of time
• Iron clothes for tomorrow
• Set out needed items such as library books, or items you borrowed from friends that you need to return. 
• Write out a few things that need to be done on tomorrow’s list.  If you have a few extra minutes today, start on that list.  When you get up in the morning, you’ll be a step ahead!  If you think this is too much work, you’ll be surprised to see how much lighter your load will feel! 

Stop and consider the little ant’s ways, then change some of your own habits if you see you’re not accomplishing as much as you could each day.

Do you have a system you use that helps you to organize your day, such as a planner of some sort?

With love,