I thought back this week to the days prior to child-free living -- seems like a long time ago -- a couple of months shy of 30 years, to be precise. And I asked myself: 'What did Joelene and I do with all our time before we had kids?'We're actually back there now since our children are grown -- but the funny thing is, we're having less trouble wondering what do with our time now on the other side of children.
But I wondered where all the time went between then and now. And the answer is … away. It went … away.
'Your allotment of time is set.'
And you can't recover one moment of it. You can't store it away - you can't save it for later. It just goes … away.
It seems like just yesterday I was 25. Seems like last week I was 12. Where did my life go?
Your time equals your life. You can run out of money and still have life left. You can run out of friends and have life to spare. But once you run out of time, it's over. You can make more income - you can make more relationships - you can take more trips --- but your allotment of time is set.
Your days are ordained in advance. Time has set limits you cannot exceed.
'Teach us, God, to number our days right, that we may gain hearts of wisdom.' (Psalm 90:12)
And be blessed.
4 comments:
It has been coming up on 33 yrs since I had my son. I remember thinking how perfect it would be to start a family. I was just 19, mind you. Lol Anyway, I had fun with my kids all during their early years, but my very favorite time is when they were teenagers. We would go out on weekly times to dinner and a movie. We could talk about all kinds of subjects and they had their own thoughts and input. It was fascinating. They were their own persons and I loved it.
Anyway, I have been "child-free" for about 13 yrs now. I find things that occupy my mind and time now. Thank goodness for the internet! I can explore so many more topics and ideas than I ever could at the library. And it doesn't take a lot of money. I, also, love my work...being out with people of all ages and backgrounds is awesome! I have made so many friends.
I will say that I feel as if I have been alive forever. I look back on my life and think of the important happenings at the time. It was ages ago!
I always had this thought in the back of my mind that I would live to about 85 years old. God is in control of that, though, not me. I find myself thinking about all of the people I have known that died far too soon. My daughter had a friend that passed from carbon monoxide poisoning, and she was only 21 yrs old. Another young friend that lived across the street from us was killed in a car crash. We really don't know how many years we have. It seems so random.
As far as not recovering the times past, we always have those wonderful memories of things that happened in our lives. I will always remember my kindergarten teacher choosing me as the most polite student, or my 3rd grade teacher challenging us with math problems to solve in our mind, not on paper. She made me feel very smart. Winning my Spelling Bee in 5th grade. The sound of my daughters first breath of air and cry as I gave birth to her...on and on. We all have those. We just have to take the time to bring them to mind...not just the bad things.
Each person that has passed away during my lifetime makes me wonder how long I have. It is a mystery. For instance, Nelson Mandela. He changed the course of history. We just never know when our time has come. I do hope I leave some light of hope and love for those who have crossed my path before my allotment of time is over. I keep trying...
PK, this really has nothing to do with this particular post, but it is important. It may be a topic of consideration later. We all spend a vast amount of our time at work, so it is very worthwhile. I hope you find it of interest.
May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20 - Proverbs 13:12
Over 70 percent of our time is spent in a working environment, yet our training and teaching focuses on areas where we spend much less time. The workplace is the greatest mission field of our day, yet we do not train workplace believers how to effectively integrate their faith into their jobs. The wall between Sunday and Monday still exists. Most believers do not understand that all of life is spiritual, not just life on Sunday.
A recent study found that 50 percent of Christians have never heard a sermon on work; 70 percent have never been taught a theology of work; and 70 percent have never heard a sermon on vocation. Why do we focus on the fringes rather than the center where most people spend most of their time - the workplace?
God is removing the wall of separation by speaking to pastors and workplace believers all over the world. A pastor recently shared how his church ordains their workplace believers for their calling to the workplace. Another pastor described their church's commitment to integrating training for their workplace believers on the theology of work. Another told how they began a workplace ministry within their church for their workplace believers, and even integrated Sunday school programs specifically geared to help workplace believers understand their calling in the workplace.
We are entering a new era in the Church when workplace believers are seen as a remnant of the Body of Christ who need to be mobilized and trained for the work of the ministry to their own mission field-the workplace. Are you one of the men and women God is raising up for this task? Pray that God will help pastors understand and affirm this calling, and that they will respond by training the people of their churches for their own ministry to the workplace. When we reclaim the 70 percent, the remainder will be reclaimed automatically.
Great comment, Anon#2. I'm Going to give that some definite thought.
I'm glad you found it helpful. Based on the examples from other pastors, I think that ordaining a workplace believer gives them the encouragement, authority, sense of purpose for Christ...so many things. It is like a calling.
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