Does anyone else find it
hard to believe that it’s already February?! It seems like just yesterday we
were celebrating the start of 2014, but now we’re almost 2 months in. I never
used to understand when adults would say “time flies by”, but now I do. In just
23 days, I’ll be 17 years old. I’ll be graduating in just over a year, and then
not long after that I’ll be heading off to do whatever God wants me to; I don’t
know what that is yet, but I do have a small idea, and I feel like that idea is
confirmed a little more and more as time goes by. Anyways, that’s really not my
point for this post. My point does, however, have to do with time. I have a lot
on my mind that I want to share with you all tonight, so if this post seems a
bit random at first, please just bare with me, because I promise I DO have a
point.
First of all, I have come to realize that I do not
like winter all that much (random point #1). In the past when some one would
ask me about my favorite season, I would say winter, with almost no hesitation.
I loved the idea of snow, hot cocoa, a break from school, and of course,
Christmas! Of course I do still love these things, but this past month has
really strained my love for winter. It seems like this year so far has
consisted of nothing but days with freezing cold temperatures, school cancellations (for various reasons), and snow and ice taking a hold to every
outdoor surface. However, last Saturday the temperature got all the way up to
64 degrees, and the sun was out all day long! It was seriously an incredible
day for me, and as I reflected on it later I realized that winter *isn’t* my favorite
season (shocker! ;)) Now I feel like my favorite season is somewhere between
spring and summer, where the daily temperature is just right and the sun stays
in the sky without a sign of snow. I so enjoyed Saturday’s surprise weather,
because I got to enjoy some time outside. I normally don’t spend much time
outside, but right now, all I can think about is how amazing it’ll be when the
weather is nice enough that I can go to the park and swing for hours, or treat
my sister to ice cream at our town’s “Crisps” (don’t tell her I said that
though ;)). The point I’m trying to make here, is that I really like what comes
along with warmer weather. You know how some people say that sunshine makes you
happier? Well as cliché as that may sound, it is SO true!! As much as I try not
to complain about the cold, it’s not easy. However, the feeling of joy and
happiness that I felt Saturday was a beautiful reminder that the sun will
ALWAYS come back out; and I’m really looking forward to that.
Alright, enough talk about the weather. Really, I
just said all of this because I feel like it’s something I needed to say to lead
up to my big point. Another point I want
to make goes back to something I mentioned earlier: Time is flying by.
Seriously guys, I’m not trying to sound cheesy, but it’s true; life is short,
and it’s going by a lot faster than I wish it would. From a very young age I've spent so much time planning my future, and now I’m almost 17, and all I want is
to enjoy life. So many times I spend countless hours looking ahead and planning
what I think would be a perfect and unforgettable moment, and I miss the
moments I’m already standing in. So many times the words “Hold on, I gotta get
my camera!” come out of my mouth, and by the time I get the picture, all I have
left to remember of that moment is what’s on my SD card. Don’t get me wrong, I
love taking pictures. As a scrapbooker and someone who simply loves to look
back on special moments, pictures are very important to me! However, I don’t
like that I spend so much time planning the perfect photo-op while at the same
time I just want to enjoy that moment. I've seen so many pictures and heard so
many people say “Live in the moment”, that for a long time I honestly felt like
that was the most cliché phrase in the entire world. In addition to that, I
thought it was something people said to persuade others to drink and party
because “there might not be a tomorrow, so who cares what you do today?!” (Yes,
I really thought this). However, now I see that this phrase is all about
perspective. There are always going to be people who think this way, but for
me, I’m choosing to live by what I think the *real* meaning is.
Life is short. Each day is a gift from God and He gives
us blessings in each and every moment. He doesn't give us an expiration date
for our lives, because if He did we’d spend so much time dwelling on that, and
we wouldn't think about Him and all of His love for us. He doesn't tell us how long we have to live for Him, so what are we waiting for?! Don’t waste even ONE
moment. Don’t let one memory slip by. Don’t live like you’re gonna die, live
like you've been given a new life! Because you have! He’s given us all new
life, and it’s a free gift!
And most of all, take the
time to stop and live in the moment. It’s not a just cliché statement you get in
fortune cookies or see on Pinterest; it’s a blessing. The ability to cherish
and enjoy even the simplest of moments is the blessing of a lifetime, and I pray
that we never forget this. Especially because even the simplest of moments can
make for an absolutely beautiful day in the midst of the beautiful lives we've all been
given.
Psalms 118:24 - This is the
day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
