Home christian living Are You Wasting or Living Life?

Are You Wasting or Living Life?

by Kelly Crawford

“The most important work you and I will ever do will be within the walls of our own homes.” -Harold Lee

Do you ever feel like you’re just busy waiting for the next phase, the next season, the next step?

Once we arrive *here*”…life will be easier, slower, better.

But…

We are here. Now.

Life is where we are in this moment. Circumstances will most certainly change, seasons will wax and wane, but we can’t waste NOW by waiting on something else.

For me, I’m waiting on “normal.” I’m waiting for my house, my space, my routine. And I’ve made the mistake of waiting for my “life.” But in the waiting there’s living. And in the living there’s learning, loving and growing.

“I can wait and waste, or I can live and use these moments wisely.”

In a blink, our children will be grown and, at the risk of sounding terribly pessimistic, our lives will be too. (“What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.”  James 4:14)

What are we doing in this moment that will last after us? What are we doing today to leave an impact on tomorrow?

Will it live on? Will our legacy be one of well-spent time and energy and conversations and relationships? Of smiles and pleasant days wherever we are? Of making our husbands better? Of making warrior-children and Kingdom-builders?

Or will we look back in a few short years and grieve over lost life while we waited?

Life is lived in the moment you’re in.

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16 comments

Michelle June 24, 2011 - 10:43 am

Yes, and amen!

Reply
Kelly L June 24, 2011 - 12:15 pm

Awesome! Nothing else to say but “awesome”.

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Mrs. Santos June 24, 2011 - 12:53 pm

This is something we all know and believe but when YOU say it, in your circumstances, it carries so much weight. Praise the Lord.

I don’t think we can truly live our life (without wasting it) unless we can say “thy will be done.” We forget that we were created by God and for God and the circumstances we find ourselves in, whatever they may be, are for our good and His glory. He works all things together for good to them that love God. When we are “waiting” for things to get better it reveals our unbelief.

God bless you. Thank you for your post.

Reply
Word Warrior June 24, 2011 - 1:17 pm

We just received the awesome box of goodies you sent!! Thank you so much for such a sweet blessing!

Reply
Mrs. Santos June 25, 2011 - 8:39 pm

We wondered if it made it! So glad.

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Ruth Adams June 24, 2011 - 2:11 pm

Such wise words, Kelly! Thank you for that reminder. It seems like we are very often in a season of waiting about one thing or another. We need to live through every season asking the Lord to, “teach us to number our days aright that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Thank you for the reminder.

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Ann S June 24, 2011 - 2:56 pm

Kelly, I was led to write on this very same topic this past week. I agree we need to live now and not always be looking to the future for what it might bring! Check out my blog post at http://www.astheyriseup.blogspot.com. I am new at this blogging thing(at least as a regular blogger)but I have been following you for a while now and keeping you and your family in my prayers. Be blessed. Ann

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Dawn@OneFaithfulMom June 24, 2011 - 7:17 pm

I have one child in particular who was always “wishing” for this or “wishing” for that. If she knew some fun outing was on the calendar, she would wish us all to death wanting it to come. We finally forbid anyone from telling her when anything fun was coming up. I took a lot of time teaching her not to “wish her life away.” She is so much better now. I still frequently say to one child or another though, “Don’t wish your life away. Have fun with what you’re doing now, and don’t worry about what’s next!”

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Jasmine June 25, 2011 - 7:51 am

Kelly, such a true and profound post. We don’t live that abundant life God has called us to live – instead we somehow choose a lesser existence.

Kelly, in your waiting how have you choosen to live that abundant life? What are some steps you are taking to stay focused on the vision God has given you as a wife, mother, and homemaker?

Blessings,

Jasmine

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Magriet June 25, 2011 - 2:26 pm

“…waiting on “normal”.” Indeed! How true… that’s me too. Wanting to wish and wait for things to get normal again. It’s so fdfficult to face life when everything you relied on just dissapeared into thin air. In your case literally.
Sweet Kelly, we’re learning and growing with you…

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Courtney June 25, 2011 - 9:34 pm

What an excellent reminder, Kelly! I all too often hear moms wish for the next age or stage and I feel saddened thinking about the heartache they’ll feel the day they realize they missed the point. This is life… these simple, little moments with eternal impact that touch generations to come.

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Joy H June 26, 2011 - 9:53 am

I’m so guilty of this – waiting for life to get back to normal so that “THEN we can . . .” ugh. It’s awful. Thank you for this VERY important (and timely) reminder!!!!!!

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Jocelyn June 28, 2011 - 8:09 am

Thank you for this reminder. 🙂

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Donna July 5, 2011 - 7:17 pm

You don’t know how badly I needed this article today! Thanks!

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Joyce July 10, 2011 - 7:37 pm

Just wonder how and for what I will be remembered, “When Tomorrow starts without me?” Thanks again for your thoughts and burdens shared, little darling.

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Alice July 13, 2011 - 10:59 pm

I was inspired by this post. I also blogged about this topic. I referenced your post with a link back here.

http://awhimsicalwonderland.blogspot.com/2011/07/living-life-right-now.html

Thanks for the inspiration!
Alice.

Reply

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