Ecclesiastes 3:1 (KJV)
“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven”
Age is such a touchy matter with some, while others take getting older in stride. I’m not real sure how I feel about it yet. I love that I know who I am and what I like. I’m grateful for all that
I‘ve been through, because it makes me who I am today. I really don’t have any major regrets, even though there are a few things I would have done differently. The biggest thing that plagues my mind is why I couldn’t have been so settled and full of this wisdom when I was young and needed it desperately. I have a few thoughts I’d like to share. You can take them or leave them – it’s all up to you.
My advise to those coming up behind me is to first and foremost cherish each and every moment you have with your children. As I look about wherever I may be, I see parents treating their children as a mild inconvenience. It was never their fault for being here – it was all you. Those sweet little people worship the very ground you walk on – well until you totally crush their spirit. If you are going to have children decide right now to invest in them your time, attention, and love. You will be the blessed one in the end. After all, they are little replicas of you. How are you looking?
Next, decide which is more important – stuff or relationships. We fail here so badly and then we pout because we have no one to share our stuff with when we grow old. This too is our fault. I agree with you that being able to buy what you want, when you want is great. However, it is no fun sitting in a museum all alone. Check your priorities.
Finally, but not lastly, that special someone in your life deserves more than just your leftovers. I see this happening in marriages more than I like. You work hard and long hours to keep getting all the things you want or think you need. Then the children obviously need to be involved in every activity known to man. Still all the household jobs need to be done, and at night you fall into bed exhausted and never give a thought for that one lying beside you. That certainly doesn’t sound very romantic at all. Only you can change that – so change it!
Our lives truly are but a mere vapor. They are here today and gone tomorrow – so it seems. I was reminded today how precious our time is and as we grow older it goes by so much faster. I realize that it really goes by moment by moment, but it’s all in the perception.
Prayer:
Father God, you have blessed us with our lives, but we are the ones that invite chaos in. Help us to readjust our lives to appreciate the people, the stuff, and our time that we have in our lives. Open our eyes to see what’s really going on around us – before we find ourselves sitting alone questioning what happened.
Thoughtfulness Action:
This very moment – get paper and pencil and write down how you spent your day yesterday. How much of it was running around needlessly? How much did you invest in others? Did you tell your family how much you love them? Decide if it is time to make some changes. You can do this!!
LaDonna Fridenmaker~Writer 