This article is courtesy of HomeLife
All of us have to plan to some degree. But planning doesn’t come naturally for everyone. There are those who’ve been graced with good organizational genes, while others operate with wing-it wiring.
“Our personality types strongly influence how and to what degree we plan,” Christian life coach Jim Hughes explains. “Some of us will have detailed written plans. Others of us will have an intuitive plan, probably not written.”
Regardless of your wiring, taking the time and making the effort to plan will help you get the results you want in the end.
“When we spend the time to define what it is we want and what it will take to accomplish that goal,” Hughes says, “we become intentional, and that increases our chance of success.”
Here are three areas in which planning ahead can make a big difference in your home.
Fire Evacuation Plan
One of the simplest ways to protect your family is by developing a fire
evacuation plan.
According to Jason Leutzinger, a firefighter from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., the vast majority of families are in no way prepared for a fire in their homes. “One out of 27 households doesn’t have any type of fire plan other than to ‘get out of the house,’” he says.
Inoperative smoke detectors are one of the greatest threats.
“People don’t seem to realize that their smoke detector may be the only chance they have if a fire starts in the middle of the night,” Leutzinger says.
Plan ahead by replacing the batteries in your smoke detector. And make sure alarm signals are loud enough to wake sleeping family members. If necessary, replace them with louder models.
But alarms aren’t enough, especially when children are in the home. Leutzinger strongly encourages parents to teach their kids to stay low to avoid the smoke and also to accept help in order to get to safety.
“It’s very important to teach children that if they’re trapped inside, they shouldn’t be afraid of firefighters,” Leutzinger explains, noting that many children have died because they were afraid and hid.
“When fire occurs, most people aren’t going to think calmly and clearly,” Leutzinger says. “That’s why they need something prepared ahead of time that’s well rehearsed. That way they don’t have to think. They can just act.”
Get to Church on Time
You’ve bargained. You’ve pleaded. You’ve threatened. But nothing works.
It’s Sunday morning, and once again, your family is walking into church late.
You put on a brave face as you drag your reluctant, rosy-faced children to their
seats, crawling over other worshippers in the process. Sound familiar? Most of
us have been there.
“Divide and conquer!” is the battle cry of Tina Davis, a mother of four children under the age of 9. “My husband is responsible for getting two of our children ready, and I take the other two,” she says.
Davis eliminates Sunday morning clothing arguments on Saturday evening by allowing her children to pick out the clothes they’ll wear from a limited selection of acceptable church outfits.
“We let our children choose between two or three outfits,” she says, noting that discussions about what to wear can be a big time waster on Sunday morning. “By setting limits on what is and isn’t acceptable, there’s no debate. They won’t try to wear their Saturday play clothes to church.”
Davis also limits Sunday morning distractions: “No TV, cartoons, or alternative activities until they’re dressed and ready to go,” she says. And she recommends keeping the breakfast menu simple — cereal and juice will do the trick.
Frugal Family Vacation
With a little ahead-of-time planning, your family can save money on vacations
without skimping on the fun.
Kathleen Applegate, a former travel agent and avid traveler, recommends contacting visitors’ bureaus and chambers of commerce centers.
“They will have information about events and points of interest [in the areas that interest you]. They also can give you coupons for area attractions and restaurants,” she says.
Once you’ve learned about the area of interest, determine the cost of the different events or attractions, and plan your vacation days accordingly. To stay on budget, Applegate recommends planning both fun-packed days at area attractions and rest days that include relaxing, window shopping, or enjoying the less expensive sights.
To save even more money, look for hotels that offer extended continental breakfasts each morning. These hotels will provide more than just coffee and doughnuts. They’ll serve cereal, muffins, juice, and other items suitable for families. If your hotel doesn’t supply a complimentary breakfast, look for a one that provides an in-room refrigerator, which will allow you to keep food fresh and serve meals in your room.
Consider planning ahead for snacks, too, especially if you are visiting a pricier destination. Pack snack bars, trail mix, fruit, and other items that are easy to carry with you throughout your vacation. That way, you’ll be able to save a little extra money so you can splurge on a nice dinner without blowing your budget.
God-Centered Planning
Some Christians may fear that planning will hinder God’s work in their lives.
“Christians today seem to have a divided mind about planning,” Hughes says. “Some believe we should develop plans and ask God to bless or block them. Others teach that we should [solely] depend on God’s leading. The truth lies somewhere between these extremes.” Hughes encourages us to be sensitive to God’s leading as we create plans.
“When we include God and His leading in our planning, we allow planning to become a spiritual exercise, and we surrender the results to Him.”
Gena Maselli has written and co-written several books, including Daily Wisdom for Working Women. When she’s not writing, she is busy planning her next family vacation and play dates for her infant daughter.
