Time Waits for No One

Do you ever get that feeling that life is passing you by? That feeling that says, “Whoa! I can’t be THAT old!” Or “What? I have TWO kids in college? No way!”  One thing I have learned is to embrace each moment and try to live each day to its fullest.  Unfortunately, however, humanity and frailties step in and I have to remind myself to do those things.

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “Cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow; for babies grow up, much to our sorrow. So quiet  down cobwebs. Dust, go to sleep. I’m rocking my baby, and babies don’t keep.” How true that is.  As my youngest drove off to begin his 3^rd year of high school this week, and my eldest and middle daughters will begin their 2^nd and 3^rd years at the University next week, I am reflecting on just  how prophetic that saying is. 

As I am speaking with my niece, Autumn, about her newborn, Taeven’s,  vaccinations, I am reminded that it wasn’t that long ago, that I was Autumn, and Taeven was my daughter, Joy. As I am crying at my niece, April’s, wedding, I remember myself 24 years ago. As I am helping a student complete the mandatory ‘New Employment’ forms, I am remember myself as a new employee many years ago. As I am perusing E-bay for a used car for my youngest, I remember the day he was born. As I am gently stroking my faithful companion, lab-husky-shepherd, I remember the day we rescued him at 6 weeks old. As I see the neighborhood’s sidewalk chalk drawings washed away by a summer rain, I remember my children writing on my backyard patio. Ahhhhh.

And when I ponder time, it’s essence and it’s speed, I am reminded that Christianity is only one generation away from extinction, that Adolph Hitler’s madness was not that far away, that my country is only 236 years old, and that Christ walked the earth a mere 2012 years ago.

When I was a child, it seemed as though each and every day was an eternity. Now----not so much! My days seem to fly by with me barely holding on with my fingernails. It’s not because my life is super busy, boring or exciting; it’s just that time seems to speeding by faster than it ever has and I am seemingly unable to fully experience totally.  I totally realize that this is merely a matter of perception, but goodness, it’s seems as though the clock is actually ticking faster than it ever has. It’s as if last Christmas was just a month ago—NOT!  I am reminded it’s 19 weeks away. Hmmmmm.

Good, bad or indifferent, time stops for no one.

~To realize the value of one year:
      Ask a student who has failed a final exam.
~To realize the value of one month:
      Ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby.
~To realize the value of one week:
      Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.
~To realize the value of one hour:
      Ask the lovers who are waiting to meet.
~To realize the value of one minute:
      Ask the person who has missed the train, bus or plane.
~To realize the value of one-second:
      Ask a person who has survived an accident.
~To realize the value of one millisecond:
      Ask the person who has won a silver medal in the Olympics.

How about…. ~To realize the value of one lifetime spent for good:

                                ~Think of Jesus Christ (the Creator of the Universe and all that is in it):

                                ~Think of Paul (the Apostle who penned the majority of the New
                                       Testament):

                                ~Think of Abraham Lincoln (helped end slavery):

                                ~Think of Thomas Jefferson (the Principle Author of the Declaration of

                                   Independence):

                                ~Think of Mikhail Gorbachev (Leader of Soviet Union who oversaw the
                                        transition from Communism):

                                ~Think of Mother Teresa (Servant of the impoverished):

                                ~Think of Princess Diana (Humanitarian and mother of the future
                                        King of England): 

                                ~Think of Beethoven (Composed countless scales):

                                ~Think of Louis Pasteur (Founded the cure for polio):

                                ~Think of Elvis Presley (Began the rock music craze):

                                ~Think of Bill Gates (Humanitarian and Founder of Microsoft):

                                ~Think of Henry Ford (Industrialist and Inventor of the Model T):

                                ~Think of Alexander Graham Bell (Inventor of the telephone)

And then…..In a category all their own:

…. ~To realize the value of one lifetime spent for evil:

                                ~Think of Ayotollah Khomeini  (First implementor of Sharia Law in Iran,
                                          Mass murderer):

                                ~Think of Idi Amin Dada (President of Uganda, Mass murderer):

                                ~Think of Adolph Hitler (Chancellor of Germany, Mass murderer):

                                ~Think of Pol Pot (Leader of Khmer Rouge, Prime Minister of Cambodia,
                                           Mass murderer):

                                ~Think of Josep Stalin (General Secretary of the Communist Party of the
                                           Soviet Union, Mass murderer):

Upon reflection, just how do you want the value of your lifetime to read?  How do I?  Do I want it to read, “She was too busy to be who God intended her to be?” Or do I want it to read, “A Christ follower, who led a servant centered life, who strived to be a Proverbs 31 woman, raising godly children, and advancing the Kingdom of God.”  I choose the latter, and I hope you do, too!