Today's post by Susan is very timely, and a subject I have been meditating on much while recovering with a new baby. There are important things in life that need tending to, but let Susan encourage you today to take time to make the most important things (people), most important.
Would you do what you are doing right at this moment?
Would you be reading this blog post, while simultaneously chatting on FB, holding up a finger to your child and whispering, “just another minute,” for the umpteenth time in the past hour?
Not that you would do that. But I have.
Yep, I'm guilty. And more times than I really want to admit.
Time is a precious thing.
I don't know if there's going to be a next year, a tomorrow, or even another minute. I don't know when my husband, one of my children, or even I, myself, will be called home.
While the Father has given me this awesome gift of life here on Earth and a wonderful family to share it with, he has not guaranteed me a certain amount of time with them. I don't know when my time will come.
But sometimes I become complacent and act like I've got all the time in the world. I waste my time doing things that, honestly, don't deserve my attention.
How many hours have I whiled away hopping from blog post to blog post, checking my stats, tweeting, lurking on forums, or playing silly FB games?
I really don't think I'm going to wish I had spent more time on the computer at the end of my life. The internet is such a vast, fleeting place. Any mark I make there will be gone in the blink of any eye, anyway, replaced by the latest and greatest thing.
But it's just possible I will wish I had more joyful moments to remember with my children. I have an opportunity to make an impression on them that can last beyond my own lifetime, and I don't want them to have an enduring memory of a mother who always seemed to be putting them off.
A few days ago, my 13-year-old son sat down next to me and
sighed.
My mind was wrapped up in the “news” on the web. I was typing furiously on my laptop, having a “conversation” with a friend online.
I told him to “wait a minute, I'm almost done.”
I had put him off, again.
And I realized that I was sending him a very important message. I was saying, “You are not as important to me as this computer. These people online, they deserve my time and personal attention more than you do.”
Ouch! What a statement! I may be a writer—but I sure stink at communicating how I really feel, don't I?
I looked into his eyes and knew that God was speaking to me
through my son.
He was reminding me that how I spend my time shows what is important to me.
If the first thing I do after stumbling out of bed is check my email, then my priorities are seriously messed up. My email should never be the first thing.
If I died tomorrow without checking my email, the world
would keep turning.
No one will perish because I didn't answer them in a timely fashion.
There are other more important things that I really must do today.
And so I begin my day in conversation with God. I pray that I will live this day as if it were my last day and Earth and be the Mom He intends me to be.
Have you ever crossed swords with the internet monster?
How would you live today if you knew it was your last?
Susan is a homeschooling mama to 4 kids: David (age 13), Mary (age 10), Peter (age 8) , and Emma (age 4). She's been married to her best friend, Chris, for 16 years. She blogs about real life and real learning at Homeschooling Hearts & Minds. She'd love to talk to you on Facebook and Twitter (but only when her kids are asleep).
Lou Ann Keiser says
I’ve often thought about this. Since we don’t know the future (thankfully), what would we do differently? It’s so important to know we’re doing God’s will today, whatever that may be. It might be to visit someone in the hospital. It might be buying groceries or cleaning house. It might be preparing a Bible study or changing diapers. God’s will will look different to each woman on each day. I liked Susan’s emphasis on investing in people. However God uses us (as mothers, singles, empty nesters) is what He sees best. Thank you, Susan, for sharing!
Clara @A Slice of Homeschool Pie says
Susan, you already know where my heart is on this subject. I don’t know what it is about social media that seems to draw us like a magnet? Is it that we are missing something within ourselves and seeking to find it from others? Is it a hobby that is so enjoyable that it’s hard to let go? Or is just the enemy using our pride, fear, insecurities, or whatever else is “ailing” us to pull us away from the things God wants us to be doing.
Ever since recognizing my own struggles, I have diligently put God first by starting my day off with him. Now I’m working on putting my children next. Still a daily battle that I sometimes win and most often lose.