I\u2019ve spent much of my life \u201cliving for when.\u201d These words grabbed my attention. \u201c\u2026For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away\u201d James 4:14).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a young journalist covering an event for the local newspaper, I heard a speaker sharing her experience as a busy mom who was \u201cliving for when\u201d until she gave her life to Christ. I\u2019ve forgotten the speaker\u2019s name but I remember the message.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLiving for when\u201d had been my approach to life for most of it. As a little girl, I lived for when I\u2019d finish high school\u2026when I\u2019d start college\u2026when I\u2019d launch a career\u2026when I\u2019d marry\u2026when I\u2019d have children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I continued living for when\u2026when the children started school\u2026when they graduated\u2026when they entered college\u2026when they finished\u2026when they married…when they had children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Looking back, I missed much by being distracted, always focusing on the future, never fully engaged in the present.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even during family time\u2014watching a movie or playing a game\u2014I\u2019d let my mind wander to the load of laundry that needed to go in the dryer before bedtime or the hectic schedule starting early in the morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The children grew up, finished college, married, moved away. It all happened in a moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If I had the opportunity for a do-over, I\u2019d stop peeling potatoes, go to my daughter\u2019s room, and listen fully as she practiced a solo for church. I\u2019d lay down the dish cloth and focus fully as my son plucked out a new song on his guitar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I miss the sounds of music. I miss that precious phase of our lives that passed like a vapor while I drifted through the days preoccupied with the busyness of tomorrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re doing that, hit the pause button. Change the way you\u2019re doing life. Don\u2019t waste it living for when and missing the moment. Do today well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Planning and organization are essential for a productive life, but the people in our lives deserve priority. <\/p>\n\n\n\nPlanning and organization are essential for a productive life, but the people in our lives deserve priority.. <\/a><\/span>Click To Tweet<\/a><\/span>\n\n\n\n Thankfully, my children remember many sweet family experiences. Maybe they didn\u2019t notice their mom was so distracted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I don\u2019t get a do-over. But I can encourage you to listen to the voice of experience. Don\u2019t become so goal-focused that you can\u2019t be present in the moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Psalmist David observed, \u201cAs for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more\u201d (Psalm 103:15-16).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ah, but legacy remains. Keeping legacy in mind gives meaning to this day. Moses, the author of Psalm 90, said, \u201cSo teach us to number our days, and we may apply our hearts unto wisdom\u201d (verse 12).<\/p>\n\n\n\nKeeping legacy in mind gives meaning to this day. Moses, the author of Psalm 90, said, \u201cSo teach us to number our days,that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom\u201d (verse 12). <\/a><\/span>Click To Tweet<\/a><\/span>\n\n\n\n Jesus said, \u201cBut seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof\u201d (Matthew 6:33-34).<\/p>\n\n\n\n I don\u2019t know the author of this, but the message impacted my life. \u201cThis is the beginning of a new day. I can waste it or use it for good, but what I do today is important because I am exchanging a day of my life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever, leaving in its place something I have traded for. I want it to be gain and not loss; success and not failure in order that I shall not regret the price I paid for today.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Have you ever found yourself living for when? Please leave a comment. And I\u2019d appreciate your sharing this with your friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00a9 Dianne Barker 2020<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I\u2019ve spent much of my life \u201cliving for when.\u201d These words grabbed my attention. \u201c\u2026For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away\u201d James 4:14). As a young journalist covering an event for the local newspaper, I heard a speaker sharing her experience as […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3],"tags":[587,586,9,588,589],"class_list":["post-1411","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general","tag-apply-the-heart-unto-wisdom","tag-are-you-living-in-the-moment-or-living-for-when","tag-dianne-barker","tag-life-is-a-vapor","tag-matthew-633"],"yoast_head":"\n