We get busy—don't we all? Even those who plan well to the smallest detail sometimes wonder, “How did I not remember that?” or “How did I forget to do that?”
Sounds all too familiar?
Don’t we believe that being organized will make life a little easier? That only if we stick to a system of doing things that it is nearly impossible to fall into chaos?
I know, it's a common sentiment.
We have calendars. And yes, we use them often and have relied on our trusty calendars, carefully planning and scheduling our days—down to the hour and minute. One reason we also set alarms to ensure we don't miss vital appointments: our kids' school activities; perhaps they participate in extracurricular activities outside of school. Not to mention the PTA meetings or open house night. We do this for every student in our family.
How about a medical or dental appointment? For all I know, it could be anything. It could even be something that is done regularly.
So yes, we set alarms, too. And as if the calendar and alarms weren’t enough, we post reminders on our fridge, serving as a daily visual cue for critical tasks and deadlines that we cannot afford to overlook, such as work-related stuff. Perhaps church events or social gatherings of every kind, for neglecting these essential reminders, could lead to severe consequences, such as fines, missed opportunities, or feelings of guilt.
Many parents struggle to balance the demands of everyday life, which is why the terms "Super Moms" and "Super Dads" were coined. In some families, grandparents, aunts, or uncles take on the role of primary caregivers for the children when the parents are no longer around or for other reasons. And so it is for this reason that we also show our appreciation for them, especially on Mother's Day or Father's Day.
Alright, I made a good point. But why is this the subject of this blog post today? You might ask.
Well, I am just like many other Moms who do their best to deal with due dates and whatnot. It is possible that some may assume that being a stay-at-home Mom could mean having more free time to do things that working parents can’t do without struggle, mainly when kids are all grown. It was partly true initially, but something I found quite the contrary in recent months.
Some factors make family and home management just as challenging for a stay-at-home parent. Age and physical limitations can be factors. Volunteer work or taking on a new venture can also be a factor. In short, it can be any reason. There can even be a myriad of factors that are not known to us.
That said, it does not make me less busy than the next Mom or Dad, working or not, or that "Organized" becomes my middle name. To some degree, that is true, but not in every aspect, which is why I am writing this blog post.
Just like my other blog posts, this one also has a story behind it. It happened this morning while I was still in bed, that I thought it was something worth sharing, which I hope you'll find it inspiring, too, a reminder that God cares about the things we might lose sight of with our busy schedules.
So, let me begin by saying that I am like any other person who owns a mobile phone and uses it to manage their never-ending to-do list. Can anyone relate to this? And mine gets longer by the day, believe it or not. So, yes, I admit that I check my phone once I wake up, but it's not the first thing I do. That’s right.
Before anything else, I offer my day to the Lord and ask the Blessed Virgin Mary to take my offering and present it to God on my behalf. I do so because I believe that God never refuses whatever She offers. This is my daily practice.
So, I first check my multiple email accounts as part of my daily routine. I have several for good reasons. After that, I move on to my text messages. Following this, I visit Facebook, where I often would see the live adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament. Sometimes, it's the first thing I see on my newsfeed, and I take this as a sign to increase my prayer time. I look at it as more of an invitation, and before I knew it, I had spent a good half an hour or so.
I'm not sharing this to boast; it's more of an introduction to my sharing here. So, this is what happened—
I was going through my morning routine while still in bed after saying a brief “Hello” to Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament live adoration on the EWTN Facebook page, and I suddenly remembered about the property tax.
NO!
Imagine my disappointment in letting this property tax payment slip my mind. And this happened while I was a stay-at-home Mom...
On previous occasions, I have always paid before the 8th of December and April. Today is the 9th of April, and I still have not made the online payment. And I don't recall the exact due dates because I don't pay on the last day. In my mind, I was late this time.
Immediately, I went to the property tax payment portal to make the payment. I had already prepared myself for the late fee showing up there.
So, there I was, keying in on my phone all that’s required to locate our property tax bill this month.
Much to my surprise, the payment isn't due yet and I have until tomorrow to pay without incurring a late fee! I was relieved because I hate paying late fees.
I am surprised that I remembered to pay the property tax bill today, as it was not on my mind at all. For this reason that I know God brought it to my attention, as there was no way it would come to mind. It could easily have slipped my mind altogether, and only God knows when I would realize it. This is because I have automatic payments for all our bills, including utilities and mortgage—the whole shebang.
I am truly grateful that I paid it without any late fees. There can be no mistaking that God was behind this reminder. Again, God proved that He is aware of our affairs.
Now is your turn to share your stories ingrained with a heavenly touch. Shoot me a message, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Many Blessings!
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