--- title: To the Woman Who Loves a Checkbox description: Abby Watts started reading a new book and one line has rocked her to-do-list-making-world. image: https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/to-the-woman-who-loves-a-checkbox-f.jpg --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2018/10/26/to-the-woman-who-loves-a-checkbox/#) # To the Woman Who Loves a Checkbox Oct 26, 2018 11:00:16 AM  |  by [Abby Watts](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/abby-watts) ![featured image](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/to-the-woman-who-loves-a-checkbox-f.jpg) [!["To the woman who loves a checkbox" by Abby Watts (CatholicMom.com)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/to-the-woman-who-loves-a-checkbox.jpg)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/to-the-woman-who-loves-a-checkbox.jpg) Image credit: [FreelyPhotos.com](https://beta.freelyphotos.com/Collections/Womens-Ministry/i-vJc9z7v/A), CC0 Public Domain[/caption] I started a new book, [*Present Over Perfect *](https://www.amazon.com/Present-Over-Perfect-Leaving-Frantic-ebook/dp/B01863JROC/)by Shauna Niequist. Right out of the gate I was struck by one sentence. When sharing that she was stretched super-thin, Niequist says, “I was eating on the go, sleeping in my clothes and worshiping at the altar of my to-do list.” That phrase, “worshiping at the altar of my to-do list” really hit me hard. I love a good list and I feel like it’s a good thing to stay organized, but has the devil used it as a tool to keep me distracted from being present? Do I worship it to the point of being enslaved? Am I enslaved by the need to feel productive? I think the answer to all those questions is YES. I live to check the box, to feel like I’m making forward progress, to feel accomplished. It’s in my blood. I was raised by midwestern, German parents: We practically invented work ethic. But is this how it’s supposed to be?   Checking the box on the to-do list has become more important than just ... being. I’ve come to the place where I see any given moment just as a stepping stone to the next instead of an opportunity to love my children, connect with friends, relax in the arms of my husband, or sadly, even to find peace in the presence of Christ. So I’ll ask you the same thing: Are you enslaved by your to-do list? If you are nodding, yes, how ‘bout we take a step in removing those handcuffs? I’m not to that chapter of the book yet, so honestly, I’m just trying to wrap my head around how to even begin to do this. Here’s what I do know: > For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1) Handcuffs take on different forms. Sometimes they are dingy and dark and hidden in shame. Other times they look shiny and pretty and get a place of honor on social media, like two dozen cookies for the class party, a vacuumed-out car, or running a booth at the church carnival. Jesus does not want us to be enslaved by the dark, embarrassing stuff or the stuff we speak about with pride. So for now, let’s put “deep breaths” on the top of the list. Better yet -- scratch the list and just take a deep breath. Now. --- *Copyright 2018 Abby Watts* ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2018%2F10%2F26%2Fto-the-woman-who-loves-a-checkbox%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2018%2F10%2F26%2Fto-the-woman-who-loves-a-checkbox%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2018%2F10%2F26%2Fto-the-woman-who-loves-a-checkbox%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=To%20the%20Woman%20Who%20Loves%20a%20Checkbox) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2018%2F10%2F26%2Fto-the-woman-who-loves-a-checkbox%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2018%2F10%2F26%2Fto-the-woman-who-loves-a-checkbox%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Abby Watts](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/Contriubutors/ABBY%20WATTS.jpeg) ### [Abby Watts](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/abby-watts) Abby Brundage Watts is a mother of two little boys. Since January of 2008 she has hosted The Big, Big House Morning Show on Spirit FM 90.5, the radio ministry of the Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg in Florida. The show mixes inspiration, humor and family fun (and great music of course)! You can hear Abby every weekday 6-10am, EST and online at [www.myspiritfm.com](http://www.myspiritfm.com). She also is the co-creator of the podcast, Perhaps This Is the Moment. You can find it on all the podcast platforms. ## Related Blog Articles [ Is There a PB and J in Your Future? Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2018/01/26/pb-j-future/) [ Tales of a Mediocre Cheerleader Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2019/05/24/tales-of-a-mediocre-cheerleader/) [ What Color is Grace? Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2019/04/26/what-color-is-grace/) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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