This Is Your Time
No time to waste!
My mother-in-law was just days away from retiring. Just days away from the trip of a lifetime to Hawaii with her hubz. Just days away from realizing all the things she’d waited for until the timing was perfect … when the kids were grown, when the house was paid for, when the career was a wrap.
Then, poof, her man died of a heart attack.
And so did the trip of a lifetime to Hawaii. And the dream of leisurely mornings reading the paper and sipping coffee together. There would be no traipsing around America in an RV visiting children and grandchildren along the way. All the things she’d delayed experiencing till the timing was perfect were suddenly forfeit.
She’d waited and planned for the perfect timing before living her big dream. And then it was too late.
The day her man died, she told her son, “Don’t wait! If you are dreaming of doing something, just do it! Every day is a gift! Open it now and enjoy it!”
Great advice for all of us.
Who knows how many days you have left?
If you’re planning or wishing or dreaming of doing something, this is your time!
One of my coaching clients, Ginny* is a single mom who grew up as an MK (missionary kid) whose passion for missions never waned. Right now, there are obstacles. Childcare for her littles. Limited discretionary income to fund a trip. Finding someone to cover her shifts at work. The list goes on. But she knows perfect timing is elusive. She may not be able to move around the world, but she can and does take short-term mission trips. As her kiddos mature, she’s begun taking them along with her.
What are you waiting for?
I gotta ask. What is that thing you long to do, or see, or learn? Who do you want to serve or help or teach? What keeps you from taking the trip of a lifetime or pursuing your passion?
Is it the “I’ll do it later” lie? Or the lie that your desire is less important than everyone else’s? Maybe you’re believing it’s too late? Or the biggest fattest lie that you’re too old or too messy or too undeserving?
Don’t believe it anymore. Go after your passion. This is your time. Learn to paint or knit or dance. Take the trip to Hawaii or your mama’s or the Holy Land or your childhood home town. Have a baby or write the book or learn to speak French!
This is your time.
You only have today. Make it count. Live intentionally. Pursue your passion and live on purpose! What’s on your bucket list? Leave me a comment and I’ll pray for your bravery and opportunity.
Verse of the day: Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,
like a bird from the snare of the fowler. Proverbs 6:5 NIV
Our prayer: Dear Jesus, Help me to make my life count. Show me the way to be intentional and wise and live the life you died to give me. I look to you to show me the way on this journey. Amen.
*not her real name
Thank you for sharing this. I was starting to question my desire to build Awaken Your Roar and Harmony House. Now I will continue to move forward with hope.
Thank you! God Bless!!! ??
Good for you, Eugenie! I appreciate your ministry!
When we were newlyweds almost 40 years ago, we went to visit an elderly neighbor. He said “We saved all our money to travel when we got older. Now we are older and our bodies won’t let us. Enjoy your money and travel when you are young.” We took that bit of advice to heart. Enjoy.
Bingo! What sage advice. Live a little along the way!
This is great. I am starting to live out my dreams. I have waited for my husband to find the time to go places with me. I have given up on waiting for him. I bought a slide in truck camper this year. I did a horse camping trip in March. I have a big trip planned to meet my oldest daughter in Yellowstone. I am leaving a few days earlier to see a few things, then spending a couple of days with them in the national park and then taking more days to see things in Cody Wyoming and then crossing Utah to go to Zion National Park. I am also going into Idaho. That is a state that my husband and I have talked about seeing for over 20 years. I am getting there this year. I am also going to visit some friends in Oregon in September. Life is too short. I want to fill my days seeing the wonders God has created for us.
Whooo Hooo! Way to go, Jan. I hope your excitement is so contagious your man wants to come with. 🙂 Do you have a daily check-in system so your peeps know you’re safe?
I lost my husband in January. He always wanted to restore his Iroc convertible. I want to fulfill his dream and try to restore it myself.
Hi Lori,
I am so very sorry about your husband’s death. Praying for your peace and comfort as you adjust to this new life without him.
You didn’t ask for advice, but as a two-time widow myself, I will just ask you to prayerfully consider whether this car project will bring YOU joy and satisfaction?
Create a life, spend your time, and use your money on what brings you great joy now. 🙂 You are loved.
This encourages me today! I’ve dreamed of getting my Bachelors in Child Psychology/Christian Counseling for years and kept putting it off because of my finances, or timing, or I’m getting too old but reading this today I need to stop the excuses. Bottom line I’m afraid I’ll fail. But that’s exactly what I’m doing by not doing! Thank you for your emails they’re encouraging!
Whoo hoo! Way to go Tracey. So proud of you and what terrific self-awareness. Go do it!
I’m cheering you on.
This was God speaking to me. I am almost seventy and have never read the Bible with any kind of plan. Your suggestions were just what I needed. I have never enjoyed reading, it’s probably because I am a poor reader and it takes me along time. I am going to start by reading Proverbs. I will let you know when I complete it.
Thank you, Cindy
Hurrah for you, Cindy! If you get stuck or start skipping days, go read Ruth or Esther or Jonah. Short books with a storyline thread will keep you engaged,I promise! So excited for you. Thank you for posting!