Counting down our lives away

After I wrote my blog yesterday about all of the countdowns going on in my life, I thought about how often we do that, countdown. I thought about how quickly life goes, yet we seem to focus on counting what little time we have away rather on focusing on the beautiful moments unfolding before our eyes.

I've found myself so stressed and short fused lately as the "countdowns" near the finish line. I'm not treasuring the process. I'm only dreading and stressing over the time until the "moment" arrives. As if when that moment gets here, all will bring everything in the world into alignment. Yes, having my kids here from California will be wonderful! And celebrating their love will be fabulous! But shouldn't the moments with the rest of the family in preparation be cherished too? I noticed today as things didn't seem to go the way I thought it should (because my plan is always right) that I had no patience for the loved ones around me who were working so hard to make things so special.

Perhaps instead of focusing on the countdown and the fact that my plan wasn't happening, I should realize there's a bigger plan in play and I need to cherish each and every moment as it comes. My son has been so amazing, doing whatever is asked of him, whether that be cleaning the house, climbing in trees to hang lights, picking up dinner for his gma, or taking his uncle to the hospital late at night...Seriously, whatever I need, he's there. Yet, I'm so busy counting down, I'm missing all the beautiful things he's doing. My mom is working her fingers to the bone making the most beautiful flowers for her only granddaughter, whatever she's going through. My uncle has been replacing Christmas light bulbs like crazy. Even a complete stranger in a hardware store offered to go through her own Christmas decorations to find me strings of lights when I couldn't find any so we could finish our decorations.

So many beautiful moments that I haven't had time to notice, until now, because I'm so busy counting down. In a blink of an eye, 47 years have passed. Could it be because I'm counting it down and wishing it away? Time, one thing we seem to spend frivolously and can never get back.

My prayer tonight is to savor every morsel of time in this coming week...no more countdowns. Thanks you Father for reminding me that every moment is a precious gift from You!

God Bless,
~Kim