Well another Thanksgiving has come and gone…hard to believe. The older I get, it seems, each year passes a little faster than the one before. We wonder where does TIME go!? When we go through holidays or birthdays, or experience physical changes, it causes us to ponder this question. Does time fly by or does time stand still? To each its own. The interpretation of time duration is based on a person’s psychological states such as depression, excitement, boredom, & stress. It is subjective to each individuals expectation. Maybe the older we get we start thinking that our time left on this earth is limited. And maybe a child or teens thoughts are that they long to grow up quicker and feel they have many years left to live so time isn’t even a consideration. This evaluation of one’s age has a significant influence on how they view their “time”. Maybe we feel as if time is speeding by so fast that we have no lasting memories of a certain time period in our life…or that we could’ve been more productive. Maybe we feel as if time is dragging by and we are always anxious as to what we will do next & when. Both can cause us discomfort, dissatisfaction, and regret. The bottom line is…time moves on! We all have a certain number of days, which is uncertain, to make the most of our lives or not. I encourage each of you, as well as myself, to stay positive and live everyday as though it is our last. Use the time you’ve been given to create memories that will last a lifetime & enjoy life!
I must be honest and tell you that I am probably one of the worlds worst time managers that you may know. I am a stay at home mom & housewife so it seems to me that it’s easier to get off task/track during the day. I try and make myself lists to help, but I still struggle. I know a lot of it is related to several of my issues that I struggle with on a daily basis. When I have a long to-do list it stresses me out which causes anxiety. I start feeling like I have a mountain so high to climb that it’s impossible. When my house is cluttered with toys, shoes, dirty clothes, dishes & bills piled high to pay, it causes extreme distress. I tend to shut down and not only be a poor manager of my time, but to seep into depression. Then other times I’m motivated more than others, but struggle with being able to stay focused in the process of trying to complete my list. For example, I begin the first task on my list which may be sweeping the kitchen and utility room areas which are near one another. In the process of trying to sweep, I generally get thrown off track by remembering I need to wash clothes, so I stop to put clothes in the wash or dishes in the dishwasher or fill the dogs food and water bowl that I see as I pass, or take the trash out because I see it and remember it’s trash pick-up day, and to top it off, my phone will assuredly ring in the middle of all of that! So ultimately I do not finish sweeping, and I’ve started all these other tasks that probably won’t get finished. as well..(ugh ADHD). Concentration issues! My greatest battle though, is with depression. When I am depressed, the last thing on my mind is checking off items on my to-do list. When everyday feels like an uphill battle, it’s hard enough just to muster up enough energy to lift my head out of bed. On these days, I could honestly care less about anything and everything. I try not to use my mental health problems as a crutch, but the fact is that they do affect many aspects of my life (mood, thinking, behavior, etc). Each disease & its symptoms cause me, and anyone else that struggles with them, distress and difficulty functioning throughout their everyday life. Although we know it to be true, even though at times it doesn’t seem like it, we all have exactly the same number of minutes in a day. Each of us must choose how to use them. And during times where we may not have a choice how our time is spent for whatever reason, we can still control our attitude…with God’s help. As a Christian it saddens me to think that God may one day ask me “Is that all you have accomplished with your life with all the years I gave you?” Time is so precious! It is probably one of the most taken for granted gifts we’ve ever been given. Billy Graham suggests 4 ways to use your time more wisely: (Billy Graham/In His Own Words – billygrahamlibrary.com). “First, see each day as a gift from God.” The first thing we should do when we awake every morning is thank God for the gift of another day. We can’t assume we’ll always have more time…it isn’t inexhaustible. The psalmist said, “My times are in your hands” Psalm 31:15 “Second, commit your time to God.” God gave us the time we have to bring Him glory, not to be wasted or mishandled. Once a minute passes, it can never be reclaimed and we are accountable to Him for the way we use it. Psalm 90:12 says “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” We can put this plan to action by asking God to help us schedule our time more wisely and use it efficiently and that it would reflect His priorities. “Third, set aside time for God and for others.” We mentally list everything we have to do each day and put God at the bottom of the list. We tell ourselves when we have spare time is when we will pray or read His word, but end up never having any spare time. We, instead, should be doing the opposite. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33 “Finally, take time for your own needs.”God made all of us with a need for rest. Lack of rest and sleep and not eating properly make us much more susceptible to Satan’s attacks. Jesus required times of rest, so wouldn’t we? He created the world in 6 days and rested on the 7th. Jesus told His disciples in Mark 6:31 “Come with me to a quiet place and get some rest” In Matthew 11:28 He says “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
None of us know what tomorrow may hold. “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.” Proverbs 27:1 God’s word tells us to use our time wisely and not waste it so that when you look back you may have no regrets. As I mentioned above, time is so precious. I personally feel that one way we can use our time wisely is to use the time God has given us to rest by spending quality time with our family. God blessed us by giving us 8 1/2 yrs with Laken on this earth. As I meditate on the memories we made with her as a family, I can honestly say I have no regrets. We took family vacations at least once a year and took many pictures year round. We got to visit many places with her. We went to church as a family every time the doors were open. She gave and received more love than many people will in their lifetime. We made many memories with her which we can reflect on today which I am so thankful for. If you feel like you’ve gathered no useful information from this blog at all, I pray that you will at least obtain this: No one knows how much time they have. Do not put off salvation!
The Bible says: “Today is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2″ And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” Romans 13:11″ But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the time is.” Mark 13:32-33
My prayer for you is that you accept the gift of salvation which you have been given by God and make Jesus Christ, our Savior, Lord of your life! May God have mercy!