Words I Hate

There are some words in the English language I just don't like to hear. Swear words are one group, but there are a few others that are almost just as jarring to my ears, words like "Stress" and "Busy". I remember having a conversation with a friend who is a dentist some time ago and he said that 5 years ago whenever he asked a patient how they were they would say "stressed", now whenever he asks a patient how they are, they say "busy".

I am somewhat scarred by the word "busy", when I had my accident 3 years ago, I had a few friends who never came to visit me at home. When they saw me at church they'd say "I'm so sorry I haven't been to see you, I've just been so busy". And all I could think was "I nearly died, what more will it take for you to make some time for me?" I promised to myself then, that I would never be so busy as to not make time for my friends and for people. John Piper has a great quote in his book "Don't Waste Your Life" that goes 'No man has ever lamented on his dying bed, "I wish I had spent more time at the office"' But now I look at my lifestyle over the last month and feel like it's out of control. I love what I'm doing but I'm so ... you know the word. In fact I've been so ... that I forgot a dear friend's birthday! I don't want to be that person, I promised myself I wouldn't become that person - Lord, help me to keep my life in balance, that I may remember to appreciate the small things, that sometimes look insignificant but help us to appreciate all the goodness that you have given us. Amen.