Wow, it is April 16th. Spring is here – the trees are blooming, the flowers are popping out, Easter is this weekend. It never ceases to amaze me how fast time flies and the “things” of life that take up our time. I have not been very good about living “intentional” the last couple of months. Overwhelmed with multiple “to do” lists, I have let life take over and have not taken the time to adjust my sails. So what happens when we do this? We end up floating around without really making a lot of progress. It is one thing if you lower your sails, drop your anchor and sit back to relax for a while- that is not the same as being tossed about by every wind that comes your way and floating into areas that you have no control over. So what actions do we need to take to get back on course?
First, I think we need to make sure our eyes are on the right target. When Peter took his eyes off Jesus, he started to sink. Likewise when we get distracted from God’s purpose for our lives, we start to “float” and lose our true direction. We need to make sure that our purpose is aligned with God’s purpose in every area of our life.
Second, we need to stay “intentional” with our actions. Don’t just make “to do” list, make “action lists” that help to accomplish what needs to be done in order to leave time for the things that you “want” to do. Better yet – put the things that you want to do on your “action lists” and plan these into your schedule. This includes time with family and friends. This is one of the most important ways to spend your time.
Third, spend our time wisely. Don’t waste it beating ourselves up. Life is too short for spending time regretting what we didn’t do. Count your blessing every day. Tell others how blessed you are to have them in your life.
Tomorrow, a dear friend moves on to a new career and the next chapter in her work life. It will be different at work without her and we will miss her dearly. She is a remarkable person in so many ways. Let us not forget the impact others make on our lives. Let us thank them often for the difference that they make. Don’t wait until they are leaving to thank them but instead tell them every chance you get. Make time for the opportunities to be grateful. And then be grateful…show your gratitude.