I think we can all relate to moments of feeling like one day is just like the day before and then that life is speeding up more quickly every day. I sure have of late! What IS changing so much has been changing so quickly my head is spinning! At the same time we lost our house, my mom’s house had to sell and now she’s in a nursing home and my childhood home is inaccessible to me now. I know, I know, I’ve vented to you before about that 🙂 But just last night my friend Debbie called me whose son went to school with my son for several years. They both have autism. Debbie’s son Karsen is affected more severely than my gentle son, Evan. Evan and Karsen are both just 13 years old. She just told me last night that she had to put Karsen in a group home. It sent my head spinning! Both because our boys are so young, and also because I can’t fathom the thought of handing Evan over to anyone else, group home or not. It’s made me give God extra thanks that Evan is so gentle and sweet but understanding her position because Karsen (though skinny and thin) is very wiry and strong. My heart breaks for Debbie and her family and of course Karsen. When I hung up I came down and cuddled with my sweet boy for a while. Our boys went to school together since they were in early intervention (ages two till kindergarten) for 12 years (till we moved last year). The thoughts of the passing of time and the concern of my getting older and weaker while Evan is getting older and stronger ate at my brain for a few hours.
Through it all, the Lord is faithful and He keeps giving me just what I need right when I needed. This was the day’s devotion in my YouVersion reading the other day and I love how it spoke to me and what kind of reminder the Lord gently spoke to me through it…and today I share it with you, my reader, whom I think will benefit from this as well!
Every night when the clock strikes midnight, you don’t turn into a pumpkin but you are the recipient of a brand new, shining gift. We all receive the same amount of this gift regardless of weight, age, education, beauty, job description or marital status. When each new day raises its sleepy head, you are the sole owner of 1440 of the most powerful commodity ever known in the history of mankind. At precisely one second after midnight, every single day of your life, heaven opens its windows and gives to you 1440 untouched and valuable minutes to spend. How you spend your minutes is entirely up to you! Time is free, but it is priceless!
You can gossip or you can worship – you can be filled with anger or with gratitude – you can jog five miles or watch television all day long – you can read a book or go to the mall. You, and you alone, choose how you will capitalize on this extravagant and priceless gift. You can choose to laugh or to cry – to whine or rejoice – to be negative or to be positive – to be bitter or to be better. These 1440 pieces of time belong to you and to no one else but you! They are not your husband’s or your boss’s or your children’s to spend.
It is true that there are things that we have to do. Most of us must work but we choose how we work. We can either go to the office with a chip on our shoulder, filled with angst and negativity or we can walk in with a happy heart, a solid work ethic and praying for those in our office. You can hate every minute that you are at work and waste time by gossiping with the girls in the office, playing computer games and sneaking out the door five minutes early. Or you can know that God has set you in this particular office to be a blessing and to bring the excellence and character of God into your workplace.
It is true, you have to take care of aging parents, raise your children and take out that dreaded trash. Nevertheless, you choose how to do your have-to’s. You can march through life with heavy steps and a frustrated heart or you can perform all of the necessities in life with patience, love and joy.
–From “Holy Emotions: Biblical Responses to Every Challenge”
“…do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:4-9 ESV
