New every moment

I have been praying for peace, the peace that passes all understanding, to keep my heart and mind in the midst of life’s busyness and trials. I long for peace, but I do not feel it, nor do I live it. I don’t really know how to be at peace, to have my heart and mind filled with quiet. The trials of January really set me off on a peace-less road, as I worried and fretted about my damaged kitchen floor, and my leaking washing machine, and my smashed up car, and my disorderly children, and my chaotic home school, and my messy house. Living without peace, I was snapping at my children and hubby, never smiling or pleasant. In my head, I know that God is in control of all these things, with His perfect love, but it didn’t show in my life.

Instead of peace, I have had a very grumpy and complaining month. Unpleasantness has filled my heart and mind, and would have filled my writing, too, had I written, so it is probably good that I didn’t blog. I started this blog to count my blessings in the small moments of life, but I have not been able to find them in the midst of my worry.

But an important event that changed my attitude happened last Friday. I was in my Mom’s group at coop, and listening to a Bible study, wondering why God has me there, as so far, it is all stuff that doesn’t seem to apply much to me. When bam, there it was.

Did you know that this minute is the best minute of your life? It is, because it is the only minute you have in possession. The past and the future are phantoms. They cannot give you any real joy in the now. Only this present moment can be savored. Actually what the speaker said is that this time, while the children are small, is the best time of my life, and that if I blink, I will miss it. But that is not what I heard. What I heard is that if I don’t enjoy this present minute, I will never enjoy my life. If I do not enjoy my children now, I will be miserable and cranky. If I do not rejoice in this present second, life will pass me by.

So I decided to practice enjoying my minutes. I started smiling more, especially at my children. I started taking delight in their “interruptions” instead of being annoyed by them. To my surprise, the peace I had longed for was right there, waiting for me. For the first time in ages, my heart was quiet, my mind still. The head knowledge that God has it all under perfect control, and that He loves me passionately and unconditionally began to fill all the worry wrinkles, smoothing my brow and my anxious heart.

This very moment is the best moment of my life. This is the only moment God has entrusted to me. He wants me to savor it, to drink deeply of it, to be moment by moment grateful for it. Whatever walks into my life in the next moment is to be savored then. I can neither taste it now nor change it now. I can only live it when it comes. Be it a crying child, or a cuddly one, I can not touch that moment now. I must enjoy the present moment while it is here, for in an instant, it too is gone, never to be touched again.

Today was difficult, yes. My resolve to enjoy my moments was sorely tested. Boy was cranky, unreasonable, and out of control much of the day. But I wasn’t. I didn’t let it get to me, at least not too much. Baby was also cranky, but I had sympathy for her instead of being worn down by her. Girl had a bad day, too, filled with petty meanness and unpleasantness. I smiled at them all, spoke gently to them, tried to help them instead of being annoyed at them. I do not say this as a matter of pride, for I did not maintain my calm through my own strength. The peace that I experienced this day reflects nothing regarding me, for it was not of me. This was not a day which should have been a peaceful one, and yet there you are. I experienced peace when I should not have. Is that not the peace which passes understanding?

There are many other great and good things which God has done for me lately. I want to make a short list, as a reminder of His almighty goodness and glory.

1. After all my worry and fretting, my kitchen floor issue is resolved with little interference from me. All I needed to do was stand back and watch God work on my behalf.

2. My car is as good as new. After all my distress, all that was required was to behold the work of God as He arranged the details and covered the need.

3. After all our stress about our finances, God had been preparing for the past year to have the money we require available when we require it. Our mortgage is paid, the deficit is covered, or will be when our income tax refund comes in, and all we needed to do is stand quiet beside Him and let Him work.

The present moment is the moment to pet the kittens, care for their needs, and then go to sleep. Tomorrow is a new day, full of new moments to savor. To paraphrase Lamentations, His mercies are new every moment.

This moment is the best moment of your life. Live it fully.

Advertisement