My friend Kay sent me something that I need to share with you. The words have really spoken to me, and that's probably why Kay sent it.....she knows me well.
Let me digress a moment. When I was put on 6 weeks of total bed rest 19 years ago, Kay was the person who single-handedly stepped into D's and my life and carried us. She took over my job as administrator of our clinic, she went to the library and got me books, she did my Target shopping, she calmed me when my contractions increased, and she chastised me when I would have a pity party, reminding me of what a gift I was giving "Boomer" by laying on that sofa. And if I said that we will always be indebted to her, she would verbally slap me silly and lecture me that close friends just step up to the plate when they need to, and that's that. But she was our heroine, and we will always carry her devotion to us and my pregnancy inside of us forever.
I think Kay remembers my tendency to look ahead too far. It has gotten me in plenty of trouble over the years. As a Type A, I plan ahead. I have a hard time staying within a 24 hour period. Kay knows me. And so, this is what she sent to me. I share it because it may speak to some of you too.
There are two days in every week about which we should not worry; two days which should be kept free from fear and apprehension.
One of those days is yesterday, with its mistakes and cares, its faults and blunders, its aches and pains. Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control. All the money in the world cannot bring back yesterday. We cannot undo a single act we performed. We cannot erase a single word we said. Yesterday is gone.
The other day we should not worry about is tomorrow, with its possible adversities, its burdens, its large promise and poor performance. Tomorrow is beyond our immediate control. Tomorrow's sun will rise, whether in a splendor or behind a mask of clouds. But it will rise. Until it does, we have no stake in tomorrow, for it is yet unborn.
This leaves only one day. Today.
Anyone can fight the battles of just one day. It is when you and I add the burdens of two awful eternities......yesterday and tomorrow.....that we break down.
It is not necessarily the experience of today that disturbs one's peace of mind. It is oftentimes the bitterness for something which happened yesterday and the dread of what tomorrow may bring.
Let us therefore, choose to live one day at a time.
We are given one day. Today. God cannot promise any human being tomorrow. We have only today to show our spouses how much we love and appreciate them. We have only today to give our kids extra tight hugs and tell them how special they are to us and how proud we are of them. We have only today to affirm our employees and help out our elderly neighbors. Only this moment. And we won't get it back.
So starting today, I am going to do what my sweet friend Kay wants me to do, and move into today. I will pray for the tenacity to reside there, without looking ahead or back. I will pray for the courage to keep my what-ifs out of this moment, and to seize only what is in front of me. May it be so!
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24
1 comment:
This reminds me of a poem my Dad used to quote to my sisters and me: "Lost yesterday, somewhere between sunrise and sunset--two golden hours, each set with 60 diamond minutes. No reward is offered, for they are gone forever." I think it was his way of teaching us to value and use our time well!!
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