“You pile up enough tomorrows, and you’ll find you’ve collected a lot of empty yesterdays.”
I am a planner, to the point it's almost a little out of control. He loves me enough so he would never admit it, but sometimes I think it drives Jason nuts. I constantly have lists going of things I need to do. I'm always thinking about what is going to happen tomorrow and how I can prepare for it. In some ways, this can be good (It really helped me out in my primary calling. I always planned for every possible scenario that could happen so I was, for the most part, prepared if something ever came up), but it some ways it can be bad. Our upcoming major life event is a big one (hence the name major life event). We have been in college for a long time; and now that graduation is just few short months away, I can't help but feel excited and anxious for that day to come. I think about it constantly and all it entails: packing, moving, money, housing, work, school for kids, family, and so on. As I was getting ready this morning, my mind was consumed with these same thoughts. Then amongst the noise, I heard a still small voice that quieted everything I had been thinking: Stop counting down the days and start enjoying what you have now. Instantly I thought of President Monson's conference talk. When I listened to his talk during conference I told Jason, "This must be important. I think he has talked about this before." And he had. In the April 2008 Ensign, he talked about preparing for the future but also living in the now. He shared a couple of the same thoughts in both talks. I always stress the importance of listening to the prophet and heeding his counsel to my kids, but here I was a total hypocrite. I was so thankful for that feeling that came over me. While Jake was in his room for quiet time, I reread both President Monson's conference talk and the first presidency message in the Ensign. It was reaffirmed to me that I do need to relish every moment I have with my kids and Jason. While it is okay to prepare for, look forward to, and even be excited about the future, we can't forget to be thankful for and enjoy what we have now.
This is our one and only chance at mortal life—here and now. The longer we live, the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come, and then they are gone. I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and non-existent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey—now.
So today I took a little extra time to play with Jake in the toy room and visit with him and look at him. I made sure to really visit with Katelyn after she got home from school, and we took some time to go to the park instead of cleaning the house (even though it needed it terribly).
If you are still in the process of raising children, be aware that the tiny fingerprints that show up on almost every newly cleaned surface, the toys scattered about the house, the piles and piles of laundry to be tackled will disappear all too soon and that you will—to your surprise—miss them profoundly.
Yes, I will be excited when it's finally time to make the next big move (and in the same breath I know there will be times when I'll wish we were back where we are now), but my kids grow so fast as it is. I don't need to be wishing away a year of their lives. A year that can be spent making wonderful memories of this place we have called home for so many years. I feel so thankful that my Heavenly Father sent me that simple reminder of our prophets counsel and the blessings that come from obeying.
Let us relish life as we live it, find joy in the journey, and share our love with friends and family. One day each of us will run out of tomorrows.
1 comment:
That is a great reminder, thanks for posting that.
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