Watch the video above and talk about it with a group or mentor. Learn more.
Homework. Laundry. Dishes. Life is full of stuff we don’t want to do. Like it or not, that stuff we don’t want to do has to get done. Getting those things done is starts with perspective.
Empathy
Mentality is a huge motivator for what you do (and don’t!) do. When you’re able to start thinking about chores and family responsibilities in terms of how they will affect your siblings and parents, that’s the game-changer. If you feel bad for making your parents do the dishes after they went to work all day to provide for you, that’s probably a healthy level of guilt and you should go do the dishes.
Perspective is key. Certain things need to be done, and if you don’t do them, others will suffer. That should be a huge motivator for doing things you don’t want to do.
Opportunity
The other side of the coin is maybe a bit more selfish: if you live in the Western world (the US, Canada, Europe, Australia) you are one of the richest people in the world, even if you’re just a regular person by your culture’s standards. Your opportunities to do things like join a sports team, learn a musical instrument, or study art or theater are not the sorts of opportunities many teens your age in other parts of the world have or will ever have. You have an opportunity to do something big in your life, and you’re choosing to spend time getting lost in the YouTube black hole of stupid videos. Seriously?
There are practical habits for getting the important stuff done, but perspective is key. As part of a family, your actions have consequences – even not doing your homework. And as someone living in the US, Canada, or another Western country, you have tremendous opportunity to grow in ways people in other parts of the world could only dream of. Don’t squander those opportunities, and don’t be a jerk to your parents. Do the dishes!
- What is your initial reaction to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- What are some chores or responsibilities you hate having to do? Why do these things rub you the wrong way?
- What are some time-wasting habits you have or some bad ruts you fall into?
- How does having empathy (caring about how your actions affect others) change the way you go about handling your responsibilities?
- What are some hobbies, extracurricular activities, or school subjects you really enjoy? Why?
- Think about the opportunities you have in comparison to other people in the world. How should your good fortune change the way you think about getting stuff done when it comes to studies, training, or even chores around the house?
- Read Philippians 2:14-15. Memorize this passage as a family. What does this passage say we shouldn’t do? How does remembering that you represent God in the world change your perspective on your life and how you approach it?
- Write a personal action step based on this conversation.
