When our kids were little, I walked into the house one Saturday morning to see them staring at the TV. “Hey, you guys, what are you going to do today?” There was no response. “Kids? Hello? What are you guys up to?” Lindsey or Richard might have mumbled something in response, but it was hard to hear over the noise of the TV. Later that evening, we had a family meeting around the dinner table.

We knew we needed to change, because the television was becoming a distraction from more important things. We decided as a family that we’d give up our television for a few months to see what happened. And you know what? There were all kinds of things that filled up the space that was left!

The kids started a lemonade stand on the weekends. They hopped over the wall to play with the neighbor kids and invented their own plays and performances. Sure, they got bored a few times, but that was okay too. Having time to be bored made them think about other ways to spend their time and helped them come up with some of their most creative ideas yet.

The Bible talks about how important it is as followers of Jesus to keep our minds and hearts clear from the things that would distract us from the very best things God has for us. After a few years we decided to have a television in our house again, because it was something fun for the kids to do with their friends. But you know what? This time we weren’t distracted by it.

You may not have to give up television like we did, but it’s helpful to ask yourself, What is distracting me? What is taking me out of conversations or relationships? What things might be getting in the way of my being creative? Once you figure out what those things are, lose them. You will find yourself setting your mind on things above, rather than on earthly distractions.

Today is your day to put a flag in the sand and start all over again. Kick distraction to the curb and fill your beautiful life with whimsy.