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Happy woman and child in the blooming spring garden.Child kissing woman. Mothers day holiday concept

“The chief beauty about time is that you cannot waste it in advance. The next year, the next day, the next hour are lying ready for you, as perfect, as unspoiled, as if you had never wasted or misapplied a single moment in all your life. You can turn over a new leaf every hour if you choose.” ― Arnold Bennett

What are you going to do today?

As the sun continues elevating outside of my kitchen window, this is the question I ask myself.

Yes, I have several phone calls, a couple meetings, and a media interview. Yes, I’m leaving work early for a school function and taking one of my sons to a Boy Scout meeting. Yes, I promised the kids we’d barbecue tonight and (if they were good for mom today) a little ice cream tonight, too.

But what am I really going to do today?

Yesterday some 2.2 billion people around the world celebrated Easter.

Whether you believe in the fullness of that celebration or not, there is no denying that Easter weekend recalls a moment in time that shifted the entire trajectory of the world.

A simple dinner with friends, the humility of washing their feet, the betrayal at the hands of a dear friend, the denial by the closest of friends, the beating, the scourging, the cross, the death, the darkness, the abject brokenness in the days that follow. And then, a stone gets pushed back, light enters darkness, life arrests death, good overcomes evil.

And then what?

That’s the part of the story that always fascinates me. It’s easy to show up and be fully engaged for the big events, but what about the following day?

It’s easy to look great and say all the right things for the first date, or the engagement party, or the marriage, but what about day two? Or year two? Or year 22?

It’s easy to have a good first interview, or first day on the job, or successful launch of the product, but then what? Yet, how do you stay on fire for your work, relationships, and life through the ups and downs, the beautiful and tragic, the exciting and mundane?

After the good news entered into the lives of Jesus’ followers, they had to wake up on Monday morning, surrounded by trouble, pursued by authorities, uncertain in strategy, and decide what to do with their days. What’s the next step? Where do we go from here? What should we do with our days?

And, to no lesser significance, it’s the same opportunity that exists before all of us today.

What am I really going to do today? How will I lead, serve, work, play, teach, parent, guide, grow, impact, live?

The secret embraced by all who enjoy truly vibrant relationships, inspired marriages, productive careers, and remarkable lives is in consciously choosing to treat each day, every day, as if it is the very first day. [Tweet this] | [Share on Facebook]

As you struggle with a few uncertainties in your days, as the political screaming gets even louder, as tension enters your relationships, finances, health, life; instead of being crushed by mistakes made along the journey or dreading the uncertainty of tomorrow: wake up to the great miracle of this day, this moment, this life.

For you see, the chief beauty about time is that you cannot waste it in advance.

The next year, the next day, the next hour are lying ready for you as perfect, as unspoiled, as if you had never wasted or misapplied a single moment in all your life.

You can turn over a new leaf every hour if you choose.

This is day one of the rest of your life. What a gift!

This is your day. Live Inspired.

 

What will you do today to wake up to the great miracle of this day, this moment, this life? Share your plans in the comments below. 

2 replies on “Living Day One”

I so enjoy your weekly inspirations! This one seemed to pierce my heart upon reading it. Thank you for being a messenger to so many people, when God sees fit to touch someone, I believe he has blessed you with a gift to reach the masses on many levels for those that are ready to hear. Thanks for pouring your heart and dedication into others!

Increase my positivity! Make more lemonade!
I was going to say that I read this a day late – instead I will say I read it a day after you posted it! Yes, I have an issue with being late and I am working on that. Trying to be more like Stan The Man. You are late if you are not 10 minutes early!
I have had a series of trying times over the last few years which have consumed my life. Hasn’t been much time for what I wanted/hoped/planned on doing. Example: I sit in a chair with my foot up on a stool because of a broken fibia when I wanted/planned/hoped to increase my physical activity to get in shape for my health and future family wedding AND finally get settled into our new home along with decorating and all the fun personalization additions!
That saying -‘God laughs when we make plans’ has been prevalent over the last 5 years or so in my life. And, I thought I surrendered to Him 15 years ago! Guess He is reminding me in major ways the further I walk in this journey of life on this earth with Him!
Not sure why I share all of this except to say thank you for continuing to send me all your emails some of which I don’t read and others that I read in God’s time to touch my heart, mind and soul!
Go with God John!

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