Each New Season is a Gift

I blinked.  I mean I’m sure I took a short nap and my babies became adults. How could this have happened? I feel like they were just born minutes ago, not years.

I was a young mom and we were struggling financially as we built our lives together. We’re rancher’s and I work on the place alongside my husband. I’ve been blessed to be home with my kids since the day they were born. So, there were many moments when they were little that I took the time with them for granted.

I mean, seriously, when we were potty training them or up with sick babies my first thought wasn’t “I better cherish this moment”. I was blessed to have people in my life reminding me that those seasons would pass quickly so to embrace as much as I possibly could of each moment. I really tried but I was also young and working feverishly to “get ahead”.

Along with a little age comes the wisdom that each day counts. Time to breath in deep of the morning conversations. Or linger awhile over the smile of a loved one. Maybe even pause a little longer in the middle of the hug. Just BE in the NOW.

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1(NLT)

As my boys got into high school the time was flying by at warp speed. I longed to throw a rope over it and drag it down to a more reasonable pace. Maybe freeze it right there for awhile.

Worry and fear reared their ugly heads in a big way. I clung to my boys in utter desperation. Please, Lord, don’t let the dreaded empty nest come to my house.

One day at the beginning of my youngest son’s senior year of high school God whispered to my heart “It’s okay, I’ll always be with you.” I exhaled and the cloud that had been hanging over me was blown away.

Instead of dreading the tomorrow’s, I decided to celebrate the today’s!

Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil. James 4:13-16 (NLT)

Each day is a gift and we need to be present to fully experience it. 
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So, I’m making the choice to live in the now and embrace each moment with all the gusto God desires of me. He wants to meet each of us in the here and now.

Lord, help me celebrate each moment with those I love. Replace fear of tomorrow with joy for today. Surround me with your gentle reminders of the uniqueness of each new day. Thank you Father! Amen