How many years, months, weeks, days, hours, minutes, seconds do I have in this life?
It’s one thing to waste money, not a wise thing to do at all, but there is a chance you can earn it back, replace it.
Time wasted is gone forever…
a part of my life gone forever.
I need a lot of margin in my life.
When the page of my day gets scribbled too full I get pulse quickening anxious.
I seem to require a lot of quiet time, thinking time, nesting time, creating time, seeking beauty time.
So for a person like me, how do I determine what is a waste of my never to be seen again days, hours, minutes, seconds? When does needing down time become wasting time?
Is it a waste that it takes me a few minutes of staring into space and just thinking with a hot cup of coffee before I’m ready to face the day?
I know it’s not a waste of time when I take Bible, journal, inspirational reading, quiet moments, to really connect with Jesus. I also know that there are times that I have wasted the time, rushing to get it done, going through ritual, not really connecting at all.
Meeting with hurting people, counseling them, praying with them, sometimes it’s so clear that the time has been well-used, sometimes it seems the time has been wasted, trying to help someone who really doesn’t want help.
The lines of what is time well used and time wasted can be blurry, indistinguishable.
An hour walking my neighborhood for exercise, playing with grandbabies, a date with the Hubs, nesting, decorating, writing, photography, painting, creating, crafting, cooking, meeting with friends, laughing, blogging…these to me are the dessert that makes the meal of an ordinary day special. When does too much “dessert” become self-indulgent gluttony, time wasted, life wasted?
I don’t have the answer but I do know one thing for sure. My whole life, every year, month, week, day, hour, minute, second, is not my own. I have been bought with a Price. I am His. The right to say yes or no to how I spend these never to be seen again minutes belongs to Him.
That’s where I must start, reminding myself that my time is His time, and asking Him to show me how to use it. I do have eternity, life eternal, but how I spend the moments in this life, this “dressing room for eternity” is important, does make a difference. I need daily Wisdom greater than my own to spend it wisely.
Still following,
Elizabeth
I love what you wrote. It really got me thinking about my life and time. To me times is wasted being angry or spiteful. Time is not wasted helping others even if they do seem like a lost cause, because sometimes they eventually come around when you least expect it. I also feel God helps leads us as what to with our time, maybe not always but most of the time. Thank you for writing that article and get me thinking again. :)
ReplyDeleteYour words touched my heart deeply today. A decision hangs in front of me and I often wonder if it would be a waste of time. And money. And energy HE wants me to put somewhere else. Thank you, my friend - you spoke words I needed to hear today!
ReplyDelete~Adrienne~
Thankyou for your thoughtfulness. I too think about this same issue. Especially as life changes and you can't sustain the same as previously. I have been thinking the Father has only asked that we love with His love,and then His love comes to fullness in us. This is His goal. I am comforted by His faithfulness to me, because much time seems 'wasted'. Like Janet said our anger hinders so much. Also our worry saps time and energy. Often guilt drives us instead of love. My heart is thankful to Him that he has taken my guilt and made me clean! All is well in the Father.
ReplyDeleteYour words ~ so true. I, too, seem to be one who needs more 'quiet time' than most. With a house full of family, it is a bit hard to come by, but days that I do take that time, make a world of difference. It is hard, so hard for me, to gauge how much time is necessary, so I do not topple into the wasting time category :-)
ReplyDeletefunny -- i was standing here, listening to my children play, looking at your pretty pictures, wondering how long it took to create such scenes. wondering if i'll ever move beyond the "i just need some down time" to the "i need to create some beauty now". good questions, elizabeth, good questions.
ReplyDeleteyeah and He took time to go off alone as well...and i bet he and the disciples had some down time as they traveled around...
ReplyDeletei'm wrestling with this too. your words are good, your photos also. :)
ReplyDeleteYes, I know that feeling :) But don't you think that because every minute is his it really can't be wasted, too? I mean, God can redeem everything, including our down time...?
ReplyDeleteelizabeth, you speak my heart. today i cried, having felt like i wasted time. but slowly i am learning, so long as i spend it with him, nothing is wasted. nothing. i so love your posts...
ReplyDelete