Anyone else worried life is passing you by, mowing you down, speeding along way too fast? You’re trying to do it all but scared you’re missing everything in the process? Well, buckle up, friend, because I’m right here with you, our hair is blowing all over the place, but we’re going to step on the brake and get through this. For me, everything changes NEXT WEEK so perhaps it’s panic mode setting in. Or perhaps I’m afraid that we are ALL in danger of missing the great things God has to offer in life because we’re all so distracted or just plain busy…
“You don’t know the first thing about tomorrow. You’re nothing but a wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing.” James 4:14 (MSG)
Oh, that’s so true, isn’t it? The wisp is wisping for me as we officially become empty nesters in a matter of days. It’s actually happening. And now more than ever, I don’t want to miss a thing. When we fly our youngest to University on the other side of the country, when we settle him in and leave him there to start his new, exciting chapter, as we arrive home to start ours… I want to be present. Whenever our adult kids come home for visits and we continue to make memories together—I long to be in the moment. Undistracted. Available.
“Life is precarious, and life is precious. Don’t presume you will have it tomorrow, and don’t waste it today.” John Piper
When we’re young, we have all the time in the world, don’t we? And then, in the family-rearing years-of-blur, we plan like it’s our job because we need structure to make all the things happen. Before we know it, we’re glancing in the rearview mirror and realizing there’s a heck of a lot of history back there and we’re not sure if we remember all the important moments. What did we miss?
In the blink of an eye, our children grow up. Trust me on this. One minute you’re helping them with their ABC’s and the next you’re helping them apply to University. A “wisp of fog”. And then we lament all the missed opportunities—the time we could have spent listening better, playing more, watching everything. Lots of grace required here—it’s formidable when we’re in the fray. But the good news is, it’s not too late.
We can all raise our hand and say we are not the best version of ourselves when we are stressed, overworked, and sleep-deprived. It’s not pretty on any of us. And usually, the ones who pay are the ones we love the most. So how do we make sure we don’t miss all the beautiful, vital people and experiences in our lives?
- What if we started counting our blessings rather than counting the days?
It’s so simple and yet we (I) so often neglect to do this: GIVE THANKS. When we adjust our way of thinking from “How many things are on my crazy to-do list?” to “How many things can I thank God for in my life right now?” it’s absolutely amazing how our heart rates slow down and we look at everything with a fresh perspective.
- What if we made the decision to be present rather than constantly craning our necks?
We can be so guilty of neglecting what and who is right in front of us right now and instead be always looking to the next goal, the next milestone, the next vacation. There’s a place for planning (I totally “heart” my bullet journal) but not at the expense of fully participating in today.
- What if we put down our phones?
I know this is a biggie. I’m so glad this wasn’t even a thing when I was a young mom because I get that the struggle is real. But for all of us, setting boundaries with our phones is crucial. And I do mean all of us (preaching to myself here!) I wonder how many first baby steps have been missed because of social media distractions? Conversations with tweens neglected? Craters created between husbands and wives? On the upside, I’m sure many milestones have been recorded thanks to our handy-dandy devices always at the ready! Pros and cons to be measured.
- What if we make time for God?
I don’t want to even think about all the wonderful times I have missed with the Lord because of my “busyness”. He should be our priority, but because he doesn’t nag or dump a heap of laundry at our feet or chirp at us from our phone, He so often gets relegated to the leftover time. If that. But part of living in the moment, enjoying the here and now, is having God in our everyday life. His Spirit within us, nudging our busy souls to stop for a minute and enjoy His presence, to look up and give thanks for the blessings around us.
Whatever season you are in, know that life is a whirlwind, a “mist”, and we only get this one precious opportunity to live it out. And to those who are sending their little ones off to pre-school or college or anything in between, know that you will still have plenty more memories to make. Be kind to yourself.
Stop long enough today to smell the roses—and the tulips and the daffodils.
Give thanks for now.
Appreciate the everyday graces, and life will be richer and fuller. Even if it is time to step into the next chapter…
P.S. Do you have a copy of my FREE e-book devotional from Proverbs 31? Sign up HERE for DIAMOND DEVOS 31… live out your purpose and passion with wisdom and strength!
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