Keep Short Lists

I don’t typically think about my mortality on a daily basis. However, throughout this past year, my husband and I have been reminded of the fragility and brevity of life on numerous occasions.

Early in the year, we had a young cousin nearly die in a car accident. In the fall, I experienced two rare and serious complications while having my third child: Uterine rupture during labor and postpartum preeclampsia. Just weeks later, we had a parent diagnosed with breast cancer and another suffer a TIA.

Each of these incidents reminded us that our days here on earth are limited. Thankfully, my husband and I already have life insurance policies, but these incidents got us thinking about other things we need to get in order just in case something were to happen to one of us. Likewise, we began thinking a lot about what is important in life.

If you’ve spent much time around Of The Hearth, then you know that I love lists. Whether it’s a Christmas cookie bucket list, a pantry staples checklist, a vacation packing list, or a life skills checklist for my kids, I love keeping my life organized with lists that provide structure and direction. I even plan my housecleaning with a list of tasks that I’ve arranged in a schedule! Of course, I also keep mental lists. Some are beneficial (such as what books I want to get at the library next week) and some are not beneficial (such as the things my husband has done recently that bother me). All of these reminders about life’s brevity have encouraged me to keep short lists.

Many years ago, I read a series of books by Robin Jones Gunn about a fictional young woman’s experience during college. In I Promise, her grandfather died as she was nearing the end of her time in college and planning her wedding. After his funeral, she asked her grandmother if she had any advice to share. This was her grandmother’s response:

“‘It goes very fast.’ A tear glistened in Grandma’s eye before finding its way down her wrinkled cheek. ‘It’s over so soon. Keep short lists, honey. Learn to forgive quickly and go on because one day you’ll wake up and find that somehow you got old when you weren’t looking. Your lists won’t matter at all then.’” (pg. 161)

Though it has been over 15 years since I first read the book, the gist of this quote has stuck with me. As I faced each of the situations noted above, I felt like the Lord was reminding me to keep short lists.

• I should prioritize in order to keep my to-do list short so I’m sure to accomplish the important things during the relatively few days I’ll spend here on earth (Psalm 90:12, Matthew 6:33, James 4:13-17).
• Why waste precious time keeping mental lists of grudges against my loved ones? I should forgive quickly (Matthew 18:21-22, Ephesians 4:32).
• My packing list should be short because I should be storing up treasures in heaven, not here on earth (Luke 12:33-34).
• I should spend less time making lists of things I hope to accomplish someday and more time being fully present and mindful as I go about life with my family (Psalm 118:24, Matthew 6:34, James 4:13-15).

I’m not in the habit of choosing “One Word” by which to live as I approach a new year. However, this year I am going to frame my goals around this exhortation to keep short lists.

How are your lists? Are they long or short? Would you benefit from trying to keep shorter lists this year? What other word or phrase are you using to guide your goals for this coming year?

Shared at the following:

Encouraging Hearts and Home.