Savor This Moment

I walked out of my apartment, breathed in the crisp air that morning affords us, and scuttled to the mailbox to retrieve my mail. At the front entrance of our apartment building, there is a stone table accompanied by a bench that is often unoccupied as tenants are usually off to work at this time or occupied with their morning routine. However, this morning was different. Today there was a woman, hair carefully pinned back with a few strands brushing the left side of her face, sitting on the bench. I noticed she was holding a little boy in her lap, his cheek (kissed by the cold of the crisp air) was pressed up against the lapel of her jacket. He sang a sweet song, a song that I couldn't recognize, as his mother rocked him back and forth like a weather-beaten dinghy that floats atop a calm sea. She was calm. She was at peace, as if the world around her was a silenced blur. It was remarkable to see, considering the nature of the situation. See the situation is that the young boy's legs were limp. As I further examined the scene, I noticed that there were leg braces sitting on top of the bleach white stone table. Those braces served to replace what his legs failed him, just like his mother's unfailing love.

I didn't want to appear that I was staring so I continued to the outgoing mailbox to drop off some mail. It was at that moment, that I lost all care for the matters I had to attend to today. My eyes swelled, expressing what my heart spoke on the inside as tears streamed down my face. This wasn't the first time that I have seen a child with special needs. What was so different about this particular boy and his mother? Was it the apparent bond they shared? Perhaps it was because for the first time in my life, I witnessed siamese twins who were attached at the heart. Was it the sense of loss I feared his mother would face as she would have to kiss his rosy cheeks good-bye as they awaited the dreadful time the school bus would carry him away to a place where his heart beat couldn't be felt anymore? I imagined her waiting at the front entrance of our apartment building all day, anticipating his return. What was it that is so special about this mother's love for her son?

As I made my way back to my apartment, the tears continued to run uncontrollably down my cheeks as I tried to catch them before they splat against the concrete beneath me. They weren't tears of sorrow, but tears of joy. I believe God revealed something very special to me this morning--savor the precious moments you have with loved ones. Do not become preoccupied with your routine, so much so that you miss out on time--time that will never stop for you or for me, but instead will continue to slip right through our fingertips. However, I encourage you to pinch one minute of time out of your day before it slips away. Do what you will with it, but I intend to wrap my arms around my son, press his cheek close to my chest and imagine our hearts beat as one. Then when it is time to let go, I will anticipate his return so I can experience that moment all over again.

The Spoils of Distractions

Early this morning, I sat in traffic waiting to get into my left-hand lane. My turn signal was blinking and tinking rhythmically in sync, lulling me into a temporal spell of what felt about a minute long. I was engrossed in what was going on in the lane to the right of me. It was a lime green 1950 era Chevy pick-up truck with freshly painted purple detailing, reminiscent of a Scooby Doo multi-flavored push-pop I used to enjoy as a kid. My eyes revolved around some merry-go-round of color swirls, following patterns of lime green fading into lavender, purple, and then back into lime green again. I get dizzy now just thinking about it! Then I could hear my tummy rumbling the Scooby Doo theme song, which led to a mindless tangent regarding whether or not I should have finished the other half of the banana I left on the kitchen counter before leaving the house to work. In this short span of time, I failed to realize that the time I spent in this lane was costing me. I was supposed to be making my way into the left-hand lane. To my dismay, it was too late! Turns out there was a perfect opportunity waiting, which I passed up to the cherry-finished Grand AM that weezed its way into the lane before me. The fortunate driver looked at me with an expression as if to say, "Hey, you snooze, you lose!" I couldn't help but think that he was right. I had to remind myself that if I wasn't so busy being distracted by the theme-park extravanganza to the right of me, I wouldn't have missed out on my desired destination.

In the road of life, we will face our bumps, twists, jolts and spend ALOT of time waiting. During this time, I want to encourage you, my readers, to ignore the distractions you will encounter along the way. Hold tight to God's promise and keep your eyes glued on Him. The Bible states, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience." (James 1:2-3) So, yes, we will find ourselves discouraged sometimes when the waiting game becomes not so fun to play anymore. We may want to find the byway as an alternative to the HIGHway. Let me remind you, beloved, that the easy way out is oftentimes the enemy's scheme to guide you off course. He loves to throw lovely little distractions your way just to see if you will bite. Remember Eve "bit" and look where that got us!

We may think we know what we should be doing, where we should be going, or who we should be meeting to help us "self-fulfill" the desired goal. Remember when we take matters into our own hands, we are taking them away from God. The Bible states, "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:9) Newsflash! Your ways will always fail if they are not in line with God's plan for your life. When we surrender to a distraction, we are submitting to doubt. We are not trusting that God is capable of fulfilling his promise for our life. James 1:6 states, "...he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind." I love this description. I like to picture myself as a twiggy, frail tree with strong roots. As the wind, rain, and sea (distractions) toss me about, I do not uproot. I remain firmly planted in God's Word. For I know that His Word will never return void.

My fellow believers, it is time for us to shield ourselves from the spoils of distractions. We are missing out on those opportunities to receive little blessings God wants to shower us with. He wants to open the door that you have been waiting in front of for so long, but the problem is you are side-tracked with futile relationships, daily addictions, etc. that you can't see what is staring you right in the face--your prized possession! The Lord enjoys blessing His children. Why wouldn't He want to see you prosper? Don't let you get in the way of what God wants to do in your life! The distraction will "spoil" that perfect opportunity.

May God continue to bless you and keep you along the journey of His HIGHway. Remember to avoid lime green chevy pick-up trucks! I am only kidding! But, do stay focused on the road. The Lord will guide you all the way Home!

Until next time, be encouraged...