Mind Your Own Business!

"and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life:  You should mind your own business and work with your hands..."  1 Thessalonians 4:11

I recently helped my grandmother sort through my great-grandmother's jewelry.  My great-grandmother, Maw, had a love for all that sparkled along with a knack for making necklaces that would rival anything Charming Charlie has to offer. 

As we combed through the pieces, I dreamed of all the ways I could incorporate these treasures into my wardrobe.  But that dream quickly became a jumbled up, tangled up nightmare!  At least a gazillion (okay, maybe it was more like 7 but it might as well have been a gazillion) of the strands were connected in a maze of mess.

Now, I am not exactly known for my patience.  In fact, if my precious grandmother hadn't been sitting by my side, I probably would have ripped them apart Hulk style and been done with it.  Thankfully, we were able to get them all separated and of course, it was well worth every second of the untangling process.  On a side note, if you ever need me to be patient, the promise of homemade coconut cake seems to help. 

Where is this lovely story leading you might ask?  Well, yesterday as I sat down on the back porch to read my Bible and pray, I couldn't focus.  My mind felt just like those jumbled up, tangled up necklaces; thoughts running in every direction but leading nowhere and beads of emotion making it impossible to unwind.

As I asked God to untangle the mess, it dawned on me that much of what was occupying my thoughts was none of my concern.  And wouldn't you know it, the Bible has a verse for that!  1 Thessalonians 4:11 says to "make it your ambition to lead a quiet life:  You should mind your own business and work with your hands..."  That's pretty straight forward, huh?

Unfortunately, it can be pretty hard to mind your own business sometimes.  It seems like we are constantly being bombarded with other people's business with every call, text or scroll through social media.  It's easy to get distracted and caught up before you even realize it.  I love that the verse says to work with your hands (note that it says hands, not scrolling thumb!) because it is hard to wander into someone else's business when you are actively working on your own.

Once I removed all the thoughts that were none of my business, my mind felt less jumbly and my burden seemed lighter.  Of course being both Type A, as y'all well know, and forgetful to boot, I thought it would be best to see my responsibilities (my business) in writing. 

Look how small the list is!  Now that's doable!