We buy the latest fashions, even though we really should stick to something that looks and fits better.  We expect our children to be perfect, forgetting they are human and so are we.  We plan elaborate vacations in hopes of having a great experience, only to wind up at the Bates Motel surrounded by cockroaches and Norman. The truth is, we won’t experience perfection on this side of eternity.  Things get in the way – unexpected things – things that take away our joy.

So, how do we find delight in the everyday things?  If you have small children, start by spending time with them.  The dishes may not get done, the bills go unpaid, the house is in chaos, but you are experiencing something you will not have available to you in a few years.  So those other things can wait.  Your child can’t.

Instead of carting your teens here and there to participate in one event or another, spend time listening to them.  They really have important things to say, and you might just learn a thing or two about their needs and wants.  Some of my best time with my kids was spent talking with them in the car. If we fail to listen, we’re losing a grip on what’s on their minds and in their hearts.

If your nest is empty, take time to enjoy a sunset with your spouse.  If your spouse is no longer in your life, enjoy the sunset by yourself.  As you grow older, your eyes will fail, and you may not be able to see the glory of God’s artistry again. Take a drive through nature. This time of the years is perfect for enchanting landscapes, changing colors and smells of autumn.

My point is this.  We should never get so wrapped up in the busyness of living that we forget to actually live.  The little things may seem little now, but they will grow into wonderful memories someday and they may even turn into big things. When you think about it, our life span is not very long. We need to make the most out of every minute allotted to us. The daily ruts we put ourselves into become boring. Our schedules fill up to the max. We find little time to share with those we love. Our friendships fail, because we don’t have time to nurture them. How sad. Live today as if it were your last day. You will eventually find a totally different adventure waiting for you. One that has you thinking about others rather than your own selfish desires. You might be surprised at the what’s waiting for you.