Time is of the Essence

    Do you ever think about what you did with your time before kids? I mean think about it...There were no mouths to feed (but mine and my husband's), no toys to clean up, no diapers to change, no one but myself to get ready in the morning...and the list goes on and on.  Now I love my kids dearly and would not change a thing, but I had to think about this. Even with all the “extra” time I think I had, did I use my time wisely? I now sit on this Sunday afternoon thinking, “both kids are napping, I've taken our dog for a walk.....now what do I do?” I stop myself and decide I need to soak in the quietness of the afternoon and enjoy the beautiful, 60 degree weather God has given us on this November day.

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    I have been reading the book One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp and have been challenged to think about my view on time. Did you ever think that there was never enough time in the day to get things done? Try to rush, rush, rush through one thing so you can get to the next? Unfortunately, I am guilty of this. There are a few quotes from One Thousand Gifts that I would like to share:

“I don't really want more time; I just want enough time.” (pg. 67)

“Time is life. And if I want the fullest life, I need to find the fullest time.” (pg. 64)

This is a thought from a pastor that is quote in the book:

“Being in a hurry. Getting to the next thing without fully entering the thing in front of me. I cannot think of a single advantage I've ever gained from being in a hurry. But a thousand broken and missed things, tens of thousands, lie in the wake of all the rushing....Through all that haste I thought I was making up time. It turns out I was throwing it away."
 (pg. 65-66)

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I am encouraged and challenged to just sit and be thankful for the Lord's provision and grace despite living in a place that does not sit still and is in a race to get “things” done.