Responsibility can be difficult, but rewarding
"Arise! For this matter is your responsibility ..."
- Ezra 10:4 (NIV)
Beautiful summer days can make you want to take a break. A refreshing dip in the pool or an afternoon on the sandy shores of your favorite beach can bring a welcome escape from the responsibilities of the daily grind, which is something we all need from time to time.
Even though we'd like a lifestyle of living carefree, being responsible is a necessity.
This year, three of my adult grandchildren are embarking on new adventures in becoming more responsible. Tim and Katelyn were blessed with a new son. Not long after his birth, my delightful grand gal Katie announced she and Doug were expecting their own little bundle of joy.
And just when I settled my mind to that fact, God had sent a double blessing our way. Vic announced that he and Jade were joining the parenthood bunch as well.
Although I'm excited for each one, I know at times the weight of added responsibility can wear one out. And when that happens you need to understand what your feeling is and why.
When I was young and married with three rambunctious boys, my spouse told me he wasn't sure if he could handle the responsibility of a family. That comment devastated me. Instead of searching for counsel, I just assumed more of the load and eventually became resentful. In hindsight, I realized we were just going through a normal adjustment period.
If I'd have known that then, I'd have told him, "I feel the same way. Most new parents do. But together we can figure it out and handle it."
Whether young or old, the responsibilities of life can feel overwhelming at times.
Couples experience it when they are up all hours and exhausted from caring for an infant or child. Then, when out shopping, having another mouth to feed quickly stresses the family budget.
Older people face new responsibility when challenged with an illness, causing them to add a regime of meds or exercise and doctor visits to their schedule. The loss of a spouse or a spouse's health issues can add extra household responsibilities to one's workload, as well.
Throughout our life span, we have countless opportunities to take on new or more responsibility. Any new position or life change can bring a greater level of it. New homeownership is an example. You want your own home, but that comes with upkeep and maintenance.
It's important to understand that there is also a time to remove some responsibilities. This can take prayer and wisdom to know what and how to prune off. However, within the correct balance, God created responsibility to be a good thing. It cultivates mature attributes in us.
Things such as resilience, time management, selfless love and the ability to stretch our thought process and creativity when making decisions. It also helps us set reasonable limits and to seek education or answers. And it reveals the errors of our choices.
The beauty is, God doesn't leave us alone to handle our responsibilities. The Bible reveals stories about men and women who built arks, fought giants and endured hardships with God's guidance and miracles along with their hard work.
These examples boost our confidence and encourage us that responsibilities are just part of living a fulfilled and meaningful life.
• Annettee Budzban is a Christian author, speaker, life coach and nurse. She can be contacted at annetteebudzban@aol.com or (847) 543-8413.