Most of the time you hear of entitlement, it's related to kids and how to deal with entitlement in children. But when you step away and look inside, focus on yourself, you might actually find that there are plenty of things we each are entitled to, sometimes without even realizing it.
My husband works Monday through Friday and has the weekends off. I am at home with the kiddos. We have somewhat of a routine and the way we do things during the week and on the weekends we take it one day at a time. In the evenings after the kids are all in bed I will usually clean and listen to something or work on a project but during this time I do not like to be interrupted, especially by little people whom I've been with all day. So my reaction would be to get frustrated and annoyed but then after I go to bed, I deal with regret because of the way I treated them. I've also been noticing that our weekends are a bit crazy and everyone has different expectations of what we should do. For the longest time I didn't know how to stop this cycle. When my husband is at work I do most of the cooking and cleaning but when he is home I would sorta let things go. He didn't really like the idea and kept asking me to choose another day to take off. I couldn't really find anything that works.
I decided to let go of entitlement of my evenings and weekends. All that really is, is the expectation to self time, to do what I want or need to do, instead of keeping myself alert and available to the needs of others.
Before I had kiddos I got up early to have some quiet time and prepare myself for the day. It's been on and off for a few years now but I've been praying to get into that habit again. Guess how God answered that prayer?? My "baby" Judah! He started walking up at 5:30 every morning for two weeks, he went from 7am to 5:30am.
At first I didn't like the idea, I was tired and their schedule went all over the place. But then I really started to look forward to my peaceful mornings, hearing the birds sing, talking to my daddy and spending one on one time with my baby. Now he gets up a little later but I'm up when the birds start to sing and I love it! During the time he woke up early I had to change my bed time by a few hours because I knew there would be no snooze button. By doing that I ended up getting a lot more rest and that turned into more productive days. I get things done before the kids all get up and during nap time. So when evening comes around I don't have as much on my plate and that gives me more 'mommy kid time' and leaves everyone happy :) I decided to leave myself available for my family in the evening, instead of feeling that it's 'my time' to get things done. There are days when I relax or work on something but letting go of the sense that I'm entitled to it has freed me and made life much more enjoyable.
As for weekends; Saturdays, I try to have leftovers and easy meals to make and plan fun things to do together. Sundays it's my sabbath(resting day) and that's enough to get me through the week. God's grace is enough for ever season of life we are living in. He sees our heart and the desire to live for him and to love the way he wants us to. He answers our prayers and is always there to help us through any difficult time.
Gratitude and contentment are the keys to keeping entitlement out.
I hope this will encourage you to look over your life and see if there is anything you might be entitled to that is keeping you from enjoying life to the fullest. Feel free to share your stories. Let's do life together by encouraging each other to keep going and not losing hope.
Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. -1 Thessalonians 5:18
Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart's desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you. -Psalm 37:4-5
Blessings, Natty