TEXARKANA MAGAZINE
I carried these future-minded tendencies into young adulthood as well. I dreamed of how great everything would be when: Ross and I got married, had a baby, moved into our new house, got another pet, etc. And, you know what? When all those things happened, they WERE absolutely wonderful. But then I got to thinking… had I missed out on some major blessings of the day-to-day variety that were happening in between all those big events? That thought is motivating me to do things differently in 2023, to adjust my far-sightedness into the future with a near-sightedness focused on today. I’m setting a goal to live in the moment of each day. One big reason for this epiphany is the fact that my son will be a high school freshman in the fall of this year. Can you believe that?! Well, even if you can, I CANNOT! Every parent knows that the countdown to Operation Flying the Coop starts on the first day the children cross the threshold into the high school buildings classified as a student. I knew this time was coming, just not that it would be here this fast. So, what am I going to do? This year I am going to practice being present and intentional with my family each day. I’m going to engage
them in conversation and actively listen to their responses. I’m going to not worry about what we have coming up next on the calendar, but rather focus on the event we are currently participating in. I’m going to relish the time the Lord gifts to me instead of focusing on the time that I am not even promised. I’m going to live in the present. That’s not to say, plans shouldn’t be made for the future. It is a good thing to prepare for the days ahead, just as long as we live in the day at hand. I anticipate that when it is time to reflect on 2023, next December, if I practice what I preach, I will find it to be the most blessed year I will have ever experienced. It won’t be because of the big things that might happen. It will be because I will have intentionally focused on the everyday blessings like: morning prayer time with my family, watching my son play whatever sport he is taking part in each season, hearing my husband crack a silly joke, going to work at a job I love each day, and worshipping the Lord with my whole heart. And those are just the tip of the iceberg! Whatever the Lord has in store for the coming year, I’m trusting Him and am vowing to rejoice in each day He makes and be glad in it.
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LIFE & STYLE
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