My dear sweet cousin over at "Our Journey to Hannah Claire" and "The Griffin Family Herald" reminded me of a principle that I constantly strive to live by but lose sight of at various times. You would think with a blog called "No Day but Today" it wouldn't be so hard but alas, I am imperfect. That's right, I said it. And it is true, I am fallible. Thus I need constant reminding to live in the day that I have been blessed with.
My cousin, (if she doesn't mind being identified as such....too late, sorry!), mentioned that in her adult life she has always been striving for what the next big thing is. For example, when she and her husband got engaged, she anticipated her wedding, then buying a house, after that, graduating, and so on and so forth, without taking the time to enjoy what she had worked for. This spoke to me so clearly because I am exactly the same way. I always feel stressed to strive for what is next. I feel the constant need to be concerned about what the next big step is and I am consumed by anxiety about preparing for what is next. So what about what is now? I just graduated from college, (the luster of saying that has still not worn off so get used to me proclaiming it for a bit longer), and before I graduated I was was already worried about the next thing - getting a job, perhaps grad school, Steven starting school, where will we make our home, are children down the line somewhere, if so, when?! But WHY? I just finished something that took me years to complete, consumed my entire life, and I am not even stopping to enjoy what I have done? Is this the curse of man? I'm beginning to believe that I may be cursed.
So here is what I propose for myself thanks to my cousin's wonderful insight -- I will enjoy what I have accomplished and have faith that God will take care of me as He always has. If I worry, does that make God work faster? Uh, absolutely not. If I don't worry, with everything fall apart? Probably not, even though it pains me to type the words. What will be, will be! Were we not told to "think not of the morrow?" I have often been told to not borrow troubles by my wise old dad. It is a life long struggle for me not to rush on to the next thing or worry about what is next. But where will that kind of life leave me in the end? In the same place I would be if I worried less and trusted more in the Lord. Because we all know there are two "definites" in life -- death and chocolate, because I can't live without dying and I will die without chocolate. :o)
8 years ago
3 comments:
I'm so proud to be identified as your cousin!:) I think you did an amazing job expanding on the ideas in my post (and in a much more interesting way, because you are a great writer!) I love the part about does worrying make God work faster! LOL! Even though I'm laughing, I know that is just what I must think, or at least that's how I behave sometimes. Worrying does nothing except cause us unecessary stress and all the side affects that come with stress. It doesn't accomplish anything.
Believe me, I know how hard it was to graduate. It took me SEVEN LONG YEARS to get my degree, and I think I was more relieved to be done than proud of what I'd achieved. I hope you can sit back right now and bask in the glow of your accomplishment.
I love you!
Wow! It sounds strange, but until I read this entry I never realized I struggle with the same thing. Up until now, I've justifed this tendency by saying it was "being prepared" or responsible, when really, we can enjoy the present moment AND be those things. I think you make a great point - something I'm going to take to heart.
Angela, you are so sweet! Thank you for the wonderful compliments. I feel side effects from stress all the time! And why? Why do we do this to ourselves? This is the year that I want that to stop in my life. Wouldn't that be great?! As for seven long years of school, I hear ya! I didn't realize we had that in common. I even put stress on myself about that, feeling as if I had "slacked" or could have done better. But in reality, I did what I could with what I had. Why beat myself up over something great I've accomplished? You have really brought me into focus!
Bethany, I have always thought the same thing. If I stress, worry, over analyze, I consider myself prepared. But really, I don't think I have been any more prepared than if I would have just taken a chill pill! It makes me wonder how many people live their lives not in the present. I hypothesize that a large portion of modern day America is not focused on the present. Hmmm...sounds like good research!
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