Broken Shoelaces...and other Emergencies

Lesson From a Broken Shoelace

by Blair Massey

It was 6:30 in the morning and my husband was getting ready for an early morning business breakfast meeting. He looked sharp in his blue shirt, navy blue tie and charcoal grey suit.

I was heading downstairs to get our coffee when I heard a loud moan from the bedroom closet. My husband's shoelace had broken. Fortunately I was prepared. I immediately went to the utility room and retrieved an extra set of laces that I had purchased when I bought the shoes. My husband threaded them into his shoes, grabbed his travel mug of coffee and flew out the door to his meeting.

There is a valuable lesson to be learned from this broken shoelace. Being prepared can prevent big headaches. If I had not purchased that extra pair of laces my husband would have been late for an important meeting, and that would not have looked good at the office.

While no one can anticipate every need or emergency, it is possible to be prepared for most situations. When I worked outside the home I had a job in outside sales. Because I was meeting new clients all the time I always had to look my best. In my desk I kept a pair of hosiery, a small bottle of hairspray, a comb, lipstick, an umbrella and clear nail polish (for fixing runs in my hosiery). In my car I kept a road atlas, a flashlight, batteries, road flares, water proof matches, change for bridge tolls, a rain poncho, a blanket, jumper cables and a first aid kit. To this day I still keep these items in my vehicle. 

As the manager of my home it is up to me to make sure that I am adequately prepared for emergencies, whatever they may be. Here are a few examples of the things I have done.

• Placed a fire extinguisher in the kitchen.

• Put together a first aid kit.

• Created an evacuation plan and kit.

• Placed emergency phone numbers in an easy to find location.

• Have several homemade dinners in the freeze for times when we are down with the flu or we come home late from an activities

• Kept up on the laundry, ironing and mending so that my family has the clothes they need when they need them.

• Have an ample supply of shampoo and soap so that no one is caught in the shower without them.

Being prepared doesn't mean that you need to start a stockpile of toilet paper (although having a good supply in each bathroom can be very important!). Rather, being prepared is about understanding the needs of your family and then making sure that you have the necessary items, like extra shoelaces, available to meet those needs. This is just one of the ways that, as the manager of your home, you can make your home a blessing to all who live there.

Christian Home Living expert Blair Massey publishes the popular Christian Homemaking newsletter with over 20,000+ subscribers. If you're ready to get organized, manage your time better, and provide a peaceful, beautiful home for your family, sign up for her FREE newsletter now at www.christian-homemaking.com