A colleague and I drive to work together every day. We face the traffic together to save a bit of fuel. We talk about work matters and mostly about our children – the hectic mornings, the struggle to get them dressed and ready for school, their funny sayings, the tantrums from the evening before, and so on and so forth. There’s a lot to say once you start talking about life with kids.

 

We also frequently discuss our priorities, frustrations, challenges, and the things we wonder and worry about. One recurring topic is the realisation that the here and now, this daily routine of waking up, raising kids, driving to work and juggling all the balls in the air, is life. This is the life we looked forward to as students. This is it – in all its chaos and glory.

 

Many of us are prone to creating an image in our minds of how we’d like our lives to look. Often, it’s an image floating in the future, something that still has to happen, you know, when you have all your ducks in a row and everything falls perfectly into place. The big (and tidy!) house, the shiny car with loads of space, the wardrobe full of stylish outfits, the delicious yet healthy meals, a balanced life with hobbies, and ample time for family and friends. The neatly organised closets and up-to-date paperwork – all those things.

 

Over the past year, and especially in the ordinary moments at home, I’ve developed a renewed appreciation for the here and now. I don’t always get it right, but I try to remind myself to enjoy my life as it is now, with my job, my husband, our home and our child – just for what it is, without constantly living with my head in the future; without incessantly worrying or always wanting to plan everything out. Of course, on some days, I struggle. On other days, I manage better, but I always try my best.

 

Life is a gift from God, and each of our lives and realities looks different. But this moment, this day, is your life. It’s your opportunity. Shouldn’t we embrace it?

 

If we build too many castles in the sky and only dream of the future, the wonderful life God has given us, the here and now, might pass us by without us ever enjoying it.

 

Prayer: Lord, help me to seize and enjoy life. Help me to worry less about the future and to embrace each day as a gift, and to understand it comes from you. Amen.