Rec Min Message:

PROCRASTINATION – LEAD BY EXAMPLE

Early on I learned that I could procrastinate certain things because I worked well under pressure. Many times, I thought I escaped consequences because I “got it done”. I also learned that consequences aren’t always immediate. When raising my children, I did my best to raise my kids to NOT procrastinate by allowing the consequences such as not having clean uniforms if they didn’t get them to the laundry basket, not have a packed lunch for school the next day if they didn’t do it the night before, and so on. Yet, I still procrastinated some things myself regardless of the consequences.

Recently my oldest (adult) child waited until the night before moving day to pack up a 3-bedroom 2-bath home. She waited until the last minute to not only to pack but also to ask for help. She too works well under pressure. Needless to say, she did not have as much help as she needed but somehow got it done. Immediately she felt like that move was a success since she got it all done. She did not escape consequences. She had to coach 3 volleyball teams through practices and games after working full days and was unable to move without aches & pains. She learned from my example. My younger (adult) child does not procrastinate for any reason – he learned from her example since he was a witness to the consequences.

Proverbs 22:3 says, “A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.”

I don’t procrastinate nearly as much. The consequences just are too exhausting. Yet here I am on August 13th, getting my August newsletter submission completed. While I did have a major event in my family which was scheduled in advance, I should have “foreseen the danger and taken precaution” and had this done. I can always look to scripture to remind me of what I should have done and what I should be doing. His words lead by example.

Marcia Gibney,

Director of Recreation Ministry