Time flies!

By Debi Baker

When I was a little girl I can remember wishing I was a grown-up!  I couldn't wait to be all grown-up with a family of my own!  I would tell my mama and she would tell me, "Now, Debi, don't go wishing your life away!" 

I remember that the school year seemed sooooo long and I couldn't wait for summer to get here.  It always seemed so very long between my birthdays.  Every year I would so eagerly wait…and wait and wait…for my next birthday!  From Thanksgiving until Christmas was the s-l-o-w-e-s-t 6 weeks of my life!

As a child, it always seemed like I was in a state of WAIT!

Then I finally did grow up, get married and have children.  I didn't think my wedding day would ever arrive!  We waited a few years before starting our family but once I got pregnant, I couldn't wait until my precious angel arrived!  Nine months is a long time, but those last 8 weeks really seem to d-r-a-g on!  It was like that with each of my 4 pregnancies. 

Then my babies would tell me exactly what I'd tell my mama…"I can't wait to be a grown-up!"  And I would respond just like my mama did…"Don't go wishing your life away!" 

I think all of us do it sometime in our life…wish our life away.  We don't see it that way; we're just excited for a particular thing to happen.  But nowadays I absolutely do NOT wish my life away!  In fact, I wish it would slow down a bit. 

Time goes by so fast!  It's already the end of August 2018!!  2018!  I don't think I ever thought I'd see a turn of the century!  I am in the beginning stages of the end of my life!  My kids don't want to hear it but the reality is that I'm nearing 60…I've lived over half my life expectancy.  It's surreal to think about one's own finality. 

I say it almost every month, "where has time gone? It's almost this or that month, day, holiday."  Christmas rolls around so fast every year.  My birthday comes and goes so quickly it nearly makes my head spin!

I've said all that to say this, "Sister, don't wish your life away!  Take time to stop and smell the roses.  Every day is a gift from God.  Take time to enjoy each one He gives you."  

Matthew 6:34 CEV tells us, "³⁴ Therefore don't worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own."  I want to paraphrase that verse for the purposes of this post.  "Don't rush through the day. Tomorrow is sure to come and will provide its own experiences."  Now, don't get all up in arms, I'm not trying to re-invent God's word.  I'm simply stating one of the ways I think of this verse.  There is no reason to rush through a day.  Each one has 24 hours.  As we get older, those 24 hours go by faster and faster.  I don't believe God wants us to waste the time He gives us.  I do believe He wants us to enjoy His creation.

I truly believe that time seems to go so fast because we fail to enjoy each moment.  We need to savor those things in our life that mean the most to us.  I thought I was truly committing to memory the childhoods of my children, but I find that I don't remember as much as I thought I would.  I want a do-over!  Sadly, that's not possible so I'll just do the best I can and try to make each moment an important one.

Don't wish your life away.  Don't spend the day looking back at what was.  Don't look forward to tomorrow but enjoy TODAY!!!

Have a blessed day!