Most of us convince ourselves that life will somehow be better
when we get married, or perhaps when we bring a new life into this world…etc.,
etc., etc. And early in marriage, we can feel frustrated when our
children are very young, fully convincing ourselves that we will be more
content when they are older. After that, we can feel frustrated that
we now must deal with challenging teenagers. We are convinced that we’ll
certainly be happier when they are beyond that stage, perhaps in college.
We tell ourselves that our life will be completely joyful when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we buy a nicer car, when we go on a dream vacation, when we gain that dream job, when we get that long awaited promotion, when we retire…etc., etc., etc.
Truth is, there’s no better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when? Your life will always be loaded with challenges. It’s best to simply admit this to yourself and decide to be joyful anyway…today.
One of my favorite quotes is attributed to Alfred D. Souza. He wrote, “For a long time it seemed to me that life was just about to begin – real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, some time remaining to fulfill a personal obligation, or some debt to be paid. Then…life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these challenges ARE my life.”
We tell ourselves that our life will be completely joyful when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we buy a nicer car, when we go on a dream vacation, when we gain that dream job, when we get that long awaited promotion, when we retire…etc., etc., etc.
Truth is, there’s no better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when? Your life will always be loaded with challenges. It’s best to simply admit this to yourself and decide to be joyful anyway…today.
One of my favorite quotes is attributed to Alfred D. Souza. He wrote, “For a long time it seemed to me that life was just about to begin – real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, some time remaining to fulfill a personal obligation, or some debt to be paid. Then…life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these challenges ARE my life.”
Souza’s perspective helps
us to see that there is no singular condition that produces
happiness. Thus, that priceless emotional commodity called contentment is the only sensible
pathway. My friend, you must appreciate every moment (and
circumstance) you have, and treasure it more because you share it with some
special people – special enough to spend your time with. Remember: Time
waits for no one.
So stop waiting until you finish school, until you go back to school, until you lose ten pounds, until you gain ten pounds, until you have kids, until your kids leave the house, until you start work, until you get married, until Friday night, until Sunday morning, until you get a new car or home, until your car or home is paid off, until spring, until summer, until fall, until winter, until you are financially set, until the first or fifteenth of the month, until your song comes on, until your ship comes in, until you retire…until you die.
So stop waiting until you finish school, until you go back to school, until you lose ten pounds, until you gain ten pounds, until you have kids, until your kids leave the house, until you start work, until you get married, until Friday night, until Sunday morning, until you get a new car or home, until your car or home is paid off, until spring, until summer, until fall, until winter, until you are financially set, until the first or fifteenth of the month, until your song comes on, until your ship comes in, until you retire…until you die.
Once you are born again, you must make the conscious
decision that there is no better time to be joyful than right now.
Happiness is a journey, not a destination.
Work like you don’t need money,
Love like you’ve never been hurt,
And laugh like no one’s watching.
Happiness is a journey, not a destination.
Work like you don’t need money,
Love like you’ve never been hurt,
And laugh like no one’s watching.
God has afforded each of us a DELEGATED GIFT that we must
use to achieve our purpose and glorify His name! Do you know yours?
Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please
(above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.
Maranatha!
No comments:
Post a Comment