The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

A friend of mine recently voiced this statement as she apologized for not sending a note she had intended to send my daughter way back in August.  I laughed nervously as she said it, for I too, have had many "intentions" that I have begun, and then let slide by the wayside...this blog being one of them.  Why do we as humans get into this rut?  We start out with great ideas and projects-never to come to fruition.  Like that pile of knitting sitting in my corner-the ideas was for myself, my daughter and my sister-in-law to knit mittens and hats for the less fortunate, this idea being hatched back in October!  Or how about the endless "thank you's" that I still have to make and mail to all of those who have helped us on our daughter's journey with cancer?  Then there are the many "kid" projects we have started-still growing, or left unpainted.  LOL.  I laugh, but there is also a certain sense of sadness.  Why did I feel the need to start these projects?  Out of a sense of duty? For fun? For love of the hobby?  Why?  What if these ideas are something God has planned for my life, and I'm letting them rot in the corner?  What if my "intention" is intended for the good of another?

We have all fallen into this trap.  I'm just digging out of one myself as I write this.  I have had to "examine my conscience" and ask myself, "Am I doing all these things out of a desire to promote oneself, whether it be through adulations, a false humility (in other words pride), or am I doing these things out of a true desire to bring joy to that of another or to lift up those around me?" I know what reason God wants it to be.

My friend's statement was directed at herself, but my toes were stomped on by a shoe the size of Paul Bunyan!  So, God calls me back to his Word, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."    Now we can spout out all sorts of excuses as to why this and that have not gotten done, I know, I'm the queen of excuses (that's for another post), but we all need to examine the "whys" and what is it that God would really have us to do with our time.  Our time can be spent on projects for enjoyment-making those paper snowflakes for the kids, for the good of society-making mittens for the unfortunate, but we must always seek God's will, even in the little things-from beginning to end,  nothing is worth doing if it is unpleasing in the eyes of our Lord.

Blessings,
Rebecca