The element of time is strangely elusive. The value we place on time is even more so. Is one hour of life to be cherished more than another?
A young woman, mother and friend passed away recently. While her days on earth were waning someone posted on her Facebook page that visitors were being asked to allow her son, mother and others close to her to spend uninterrupted time with her because “the time was precious.”
It got me to thinking – – – are the hours near the end of our lives any more valuable than those leading up to it? Really, is any one hour, whenever lived, more important; is any single hour less priceless?
One of my favorite bible verses is the King James’ version of I Corinthians 13:12 – “For now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part, but then shall I know even as I am also known.” While this speaks directly to our ability to truly know and understand the things of God, I think it also speaks to our often false perceptions of the daily “things” in life – – – among them being our limited, man-made, quantitative (and qualitative) assessments of “failure” and “success”.
“It’s not what I say, it’s what I do.”
“Actions speak louder than words.”
“Practice what you preach.”
We’ve all heard these age-old idioms. They all have the same thing in common – words and actions.
The last few months I have watched with interest, with growing bewilderment and perplexity, and now with concern, the display of words and actions our nation’s freedoms allow. The hue of the public dialogue is changing.
Well, it’s Christmas Eve – – the last day to scurry around looking for that last or perfect gift. Then to finish wrapping, baking, traveling . . . today a momma’s day goes by quickly and tiredly.
I’ve been thinking about a gift that, aside from unconditional love and the truth of the Gospel, may be the very best present a momma can give her children: the gift of encouragement.
In this crazy world in which we live and raise our families, there is an over-abundance of expectations, deadlines, aspirations, pursuits and a considerable list of sought-after achievements. We moms (as well as the rest of the population) expend a substantial amount of thought, time, money, energy, hopes and dreams seeking to simply “measure-up.” And the result? We are often frustrated, weary, disappointed and usually a bit poorer.
