Time is Our Biggest Resource

Sitting in church on a Sunday morning our pastor* said, “Many of you will run out of time before you run out of money.”

Let that sit for a minute.

It hit hard with me. Even during times of financial struggle I’ve never missed a meal or not had a warm bed to sleep in.

But time has run out on me in many ways.

Nights of nursing my babies. Holding my treasured blessings and snuggling in the middle of the night. That season is gone.

Hearing little feet run through my house and seeing black permanent marker on my hallway walls. Not to mention the little “darling” who carved his name in my living room coffee table. That season is over and my current coffee table is in mint condition.

The arguments over who gets to tell Mom about their school day first after the end of the day pick up. Johnny wet his pants today. Mrs. Woodard said she lost her earring and we all got to crawl on the floor and look for it. “It was so cool Mom!” Melissa doesn’t get to go trick-or-treating, her parents are so mean! Adam sat on Ryan’s backpack as he rolled it down the walkway and Ryan didn’t even notice. Those stories are over.

Mom, Dad’s home! Running out to greet hubby to realize my boys were messing with me and my husband was nowhere in sight. Laughter upon laughter. That certainly hasn’t happened in a long time. That season is over.

Asking my teen son to pray over dinner while Dad had to work late and then getting a comedy routine instead. (Prayer finally happened but not after many laughs.) Now that he’s a pastor that son prays in front of and with many. Those dinner time laugh fests have ended.

Listening and sharing in my daughter’s “messy” room moving clothing so I can sit down and hear all that’s in her heart. We still talk today often but moving clothes is not part of the equation, her house is quite spotless. The season of sitting in clothing sprawled out all over is now over.

Family camping. Moving into dorm rooms. Prom. Sports games. Dance recitals. Boxing matches. (Yeah, the now pastor was a champion pugilist.) Family nap time. (Hubby and I loved those.) Family movie night. Playgrounds. Grocery shopping with kids under toe making it take three times longer than necessary with a toddler running around in a cape. Kids loud in the backyard. Laundry laundry and more laundry. These seasons are over.

And now…

A new beautiful season emerges. Grandkids. Ministry. Seeing others grow in faith. Empty nest which resembles what our honeymoon felt like. This season is wonderful.

And yet, it will end like all the others.

What’s the lesson?

Embrace each season. Love the people in your life. Embrace change and welcome new seasons. Be present. Live all out and love all out. Glorify God with each day.

Time will run out most likely before financial resources.

What is most valuable?

Time.

“The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever” (1 John 2:17).

For more from Lucille Williams check out her books The Impossible Kid: Parenting a Strong-Willed Child with Love and Grace, and for your marriage, From Me to We, and The Intimacy You Crave. And Turtle Finds His Talent for ages 2-6. We invite you to subscribe to LuSays today for regular encouragement.

*Pastor Jason Fritz