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YOUR LIFE IS TODAY


Written by Lori Byerly

Growing up I spent a lot of time “looking forward to.”

I looked forward to starting school.

I looked forward to getting that new bike.

I looked forward to braces (what was I thinking?) and being a teenager.

I thought future changes would open up doors to “more important things. “ For the most part it felt like a bust.  Yes, I had friends, hobbies, schoolwork and other activities, but it all seemed a bit empty.

When would I get to do or be that something of value?

I graduated from high school, went to college, got married and had a baby (hang onto that baby comment).  Those things should have been important milestones.  I think perhaps I was just in the habit of seeing myself as “not enough” and that the “magic life changing moment” that was supposed to be out there was still somewhere in the future.  “When we move into a bigger house” then I will be able to be more creative.

“When we have a house full of children” then I will be happy with my life. 

Well that baby I told you about grew up and, boy howdy, did she grab life by the tail (and swing it a few times).  She was always pushing and doing.  She engaged life and everything she did was amazing and fun.  I’m sure she had a few “when I’m older moments,” but she always seemed to think that today was a good day to do something and that what she did was more than good enough!

At a very young age she was running a newsletter (yes, she needed my help here and there, but it was her idea and her drive to see it happen) and later she would push hard to get into a Fine Arts magnet school.  She drew and she wrote (exceptionally well).  She sang (not quite so well) and danced.  She had so many ideas and, of course, they were all brilliant to her.  Life was a grand adventure and she was the star!

You can imagine that being the parent of this child was challenging, especially to a mom who didn’t really know herself or appreciate the life that she had.  Well, God is good and He knew exactly the child I would need.  It was a major wakeup call and although it was a bumpy road I did learn a few things.

  • I am good enough (I have been all my life).

  • I have much to give to the world (and I did as a child, no waiting needed).

  • TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO DO SOMETHING.

Please know that I understand that there are more challenging seasons in life.  I realize that you can’t always jump up and do something right this minute.  There are days when your baby keeps you up all night and you’re so sleep deprived that you can barely function.  There are times when funds are too tight to buy the paint for the living room or your grandma dies and you need to grieve for a season.

What I am talking about is a life attitude, a perspective.  Please don’t wait for changes in your life to actually live and enjoy your life.  And please infect your kids with this same perspective.

Frame your kids’ artwork; it is more valuable than a Rembrandt.  Let them create newsletters, write songs (who cares if they rhyme) or act in a local play.  Be their biggest fan.  Help them to see that their lives are important today (because their lives really are a string of todays, no more no less) and they are enough.  The world needs their paintings, their laughter, their crazy ideas and their wonderful no rhyme songs.

For the record, the world needs those amazing cinnamon rolls that you make, the way you encourage people over coffee and the novel you’ve been thinking about writing.

TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO DO SOMETHING.

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