Having the time of my life, every single day!

We live in a culture that has romanticized life.  It is not truly satisfying unless we are engaged in some type of thrilling adventure, blissful romance, dream vacation, etc.  Society has even given a phrase for such moments:  the time of my life.  These times may satisfy our endless desires for a brief moment, but they are fleeting.  All too quickly, they slip away and leave us waiting and wishing for the next glorious "time of our life" moment.

I am just as guilty as the next person.  I teach school, and sometimes I fear that I wish my life away. I find myself saying, "Only two more weeks until Christmas break."  Then I count down the days until it finally arrives.  I have the time of my life during that break, but soon it is over.  I find myself driving back to school longing for spring break, where my next big adventure awaits.

A young friend on Facebook posted a status yesterday that got me to thinking about all of this.  Is it the time of our life or our life at the time?  When I first read the question, it didn't click with me.  Then I read it again, and it made all the sense in the world.  Instead of longing and wishing for those special "time of my life" moments, why do I not  celebrate life in every precious day that God has given me?
I started thinking about all the "life at the time" moments that I can celebrate, even on a dreary Monday morning.

• Taking a few extra minutes in the morning to walk in and just look at my beautiful, sleeping daughters. They are so quickly becoming young women.  But when I see them serenely sleeping, they are still my baby girls for that precious moment.
• Watching with joy as one of my students who has struggled for months finally "gets it."  I celebrate that deep satisfaction in being a small part of the process of "turning on the lightbulb" in those young minds.
• I want to make random strangers smile, especially when they look as if they are having a bad day.  
• I want my laughter to be easily recognized.  I don't want to be wound so tightly in my classroom that I cannot relax and laugh when a student says something funny.
• Even mundane tasks like cleaning house have more life if I am singing at the top of my lungs.

We need to be more intentional about looking for ways to celebrate our lives at the precious given time.  Honestly, sometimes it is easier to be negative about life and always wish for that "time of our life" moment to make everything better.  I have learned many things in my life, but one thing stands out.  Those people who celebrate life and look for positive ways to treasure the moments we are given seem to be the happiest and most content people.  I hope that I can be that person.

I came across this beautiful poem today.  I believe that it explains this concept better than I ever could.

The Best Day Of My Life

Gregory M Lousignont

Today, when I awoke, I suddenly realized that this is the best day of my life, ever! There were times when I wondered if I would make it to today; but I did! And because I did I'm going to celebrate!

Today, I'm going to celebrate what an unbelievable life I have had so far: the accomplishments, the many blessings, and, yes, even the hardships because they have served to make me stronger.

I will go through this day with my head held high, and a happy heart. I will marvel at God's seemingly simple gifts: the morning dew, the sun, the clouds, the trees, the flowers, the birds. Today, none of these miraculous creations will escape my notice.

Today, I will share my excitement for life with other people. I'll make someone smile. I'll go out of my way to perform an unexpected act of kindness for someone I don't even know.

Today, I'll give a sincere compliment to someone who seems down. I'll tell a child how special he is, and I'll tell someone I love just how deeply I care for her and how much she means to me.

Today is the day I quit worrying about what I don't have and start being grateful for all the wonderful things God has already given me.

I'll remember that to worry is just a waste of time because my faith in God and his Divine Plan ensures everything will be just fine.

And tonight, before I go to bed, I'll go outside and raise my eyes to the heavens. I will stand in awe at the beauty of the stars and the moon, and I will praise God for these magnificent treasures.

As the day ends and I lay my head down on my pillow, I will thank the Almighty for the best day of my life. And I will sleep the sleep of a contented child, excited with expectation because know tomorrow is going to be the best day of my life, ever!

Ecclesiastes 8:15 (GOD’S WORD Translation)

So I recommend the enjoyment of life. People have nothing better to do under the sun than to eat, drink, and enjoy themselves. This joy will stay with them while they work hard during their brief lives which God has given them under the sun.

A Stop at the Carousel

Last weekend I felt as if I were on the Carousel. Up and down, around and around, but getting nowhere, always ending up right back where I started. There was so much I wanted and needed to get done, but it just didn't happen. Sunday night came all too quickly. Time to begin a new week and I felt like I was starting out behind.  Will I ever get back to the organized, together woman that I used to be?  Will my house ever look like it once did?

I guess I am just feeling a bit melancholic. Last night I began reading Elizabeth Edwards' book, Resilience.  You may not agree with the political views that she held, but you cannot deny the fact that the woman faced adversity in her life.  She quoted someone who once told her, "The road map that we hold in our hands for our lives does not always contort to the road we are actually traveling."

Most days I have a pretty good handle on this new road that I am traveling.   But there are other days when I cling to the old map and get lost looking for the roads that no longer exist.  Thank heavens those days are not frequent.  But I would be lying to myself and everyone else if I said they never come.  Those are the days that seem to land me on the Carousel.

Don't misunderstand me.  I think that it is perfectly acceptable to take a little break from life and go for a relaxing ride.  None of us can ever have it all together all the time.  Becoming a single mother has taught me one thing.  I am vincible.  I am capable of being defeated.  At those times when I feel most vulnerable, picking out my favorite horse and taking a spin while daydreams of better days fill my mind can be a welcome relief.  However, I can't linger.  There are bills to be paid, clothes to be washed, and students to be taught.

Today is Monday.  I hopped off the Carousel this morning and had a good day at work.  I even came home and did a few household chores.   I am trying to convince myself to go for a run, but the Carousel is beckoning me to come.  At this point I am not sure what will win out.

There is one thing I do know.  God will give me the strength to do the things that I need to do.  And when the times come that I have to rest, He will help me fill in all the essential blanks to take care of the necessary tasks.

2 Corinthians 12:9 (New Living Translation)

Each time He said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

That was then and this is now!

January 19, 2010, I started on a journey that was not of my choosing. "I don't love you the way that you love me." How can ten simple words forever alter the course of one's life? I can remember everything about that moment. I was sitting on my bed and asked him if there was anything wrong. After a long silence, I heard those dreadful words. From that moment on, my life was never to be the same.

Five weeks and four counseling sessions later, I was told that the marriage was over. I thought that I would never recover from the devastating storm that blew up ever so quickly in my life. The first six months of 2010 just seem like a blur. The blur was colored with heartbreak, sickness, emptiness, loneliness, and fear. My world was collapsing on me, and the weight of it was nearly suffocating. I loved my ex-husband with everything that was within me. There was not one part of me that wanted the divorce. My heart was shattered, and I was sure it would never be restored again. Yet these were the cards I was dealt, and I had to play them.

That was then, and this is now. As I sit here tonight, I am content. God, my family, and my wonderful friends have seen me through the dark valley. My granny used to tease us when we were little. If we cried, she would hold out her hands and say, "Make me a cry pie." I made a five-course "cry" meal several times. Now I have no tears left for him. God has released me. I will always care about my ex-husband as the father of my children, but it ends there.

My fellow math teacher and good friend, Benji, says this: Just because you don't find gold at the end of the rainbow doesn't mean there is no such thing as gold.

I found the end of my rainbow last March. I fought to get there, but there was no pot of gold. I stood there thinking my life was over. I was stranded in the middle of a desolate forest. It was cold and dark.  I was at the end of the rainbow and there was absolutely nothing there. But God spoke to my heart.

I still have gold for you, my child. It is not just a pot of gold. It is an abundance. You will not find it at the end of this rainbow, but if you will take my hand, I will lead you to it. The journey will not be as easy as following a rainbow to its end. There will be times when it will be dark and frightening, but remember that I am with you. I will always be with you. However, know that with Me, it is not going to be a pot of gold that we are looking for.  You see, I will give you the gold all throughout the journey.  My supply is endless.  You will always have exactly what you need.  And one day, when you leave this earth, you will find the pot of gold that you have been so desperately searching for, and it will be greater than anything you could have ever imagined in your limited earthly mind.  On this earth no eye has ever seen and no ear has ever heard of the greatness that I have prepared for you on that glorious day."

So I took His hand.  There have been times when the road has been dark and scary.  However, there have also been moments where the views have taken my breathe away.  But here is one truth that I have found.  He has met my every need, be it emotional, physical, or financial.  He has held to His promise and been by my side every day.  There have been days when, out of fear, I have wandered away.  The journey wasn't going in the direction that I felt it needed to go.  So I decided to try a little side road.  That didn't work out too well for me.  But He was right there when I went running back to Him. I may be a slow learner, but I am learning.  Sometimes His thoughts are not my thoughts, but in those moments I have to trust Him.  My thoughts will only lead me to a dead end.  I turn around and run back to Him, but look at the time that I wasted on the journey in search of my own pot of gold.

January 2010 was then, and January 2011 is now.  I made it through my year from hell.  I learned many lessons last year!  But the greatest lesson of all is this.  I am not in control of my future.  I cannot plan it out like a summertime road trip.  But there is One who does know my future.

So, I will take His hand and let Him lead.  Sometimes, we will follow a rainbow.  Other times, we may go down the dark path.  One thing is certain.  He will guide me where I need to go.