large as this longing

A good friend shared this with me today. It’s from pastor/blogger Jim Martin. It’s already helped me in some of my decisions today. I’ve committed to reading it everyday this week in hopes that at least some bit of it would stick with me.

1. I don’t have time to waste on things that don’t matter. I have plenty of time for the things that count.

2. I don’t have time to get moody, self-centered, and irritable. I do have time to love my wife and children.

3. I don’t have time to wallow in the past over what might have been. I do have time to focus on what God wants to do in my life today.

4. I don’t have time to play self-importance games (Whom do you know? What kind of house do you live in? What have your kids accomplished? What are you driving?). I do have time to build up others and forget myself.

5. I don’t have time to coddle worldly, immature Christians whose idea of church is getting their way. I have plenty of time to love fellow Christians who may have various opinions.

6. I don’t have time to be a peacemonger (doing whatever it takes to keep others from getting upset). I do have time to be a peacemaker (loving people no matter what).

7. I don’t have time to play it safe and never risk the possibility of discomfort. I do have time to trust God who has promised to never leave me or forsake me.

8. I don’t have time to whine and blame others for being obstacles. I do have time to take responsibility for my own actions and behavior.

9. I don’t have time to complain and focus on the negative. I do have time to speak a word of hope to people who are overwhelmed by heartache.

10. I don’t have time to settle for the mediocre. I do have time to be passionate about what matters most to God.

I’ve been actually pausing to think about this lately. I’m a dad! This weekend, Brenna turns 3 months and I think I’m finally just now taking some time to sort all of this out. Oh, it’s not that life is slowing down or anything. Its just that I think I’m getting used to the pace of life, now that Ali and I are parents. And it’s allowed me to finally think about how all this has impacted my life. God has certainly figured out how to make his way into our hearts. How else could anyone explain it. I’m allowed to have a living, breathing, example of the love a Father has for a child.

The first few weeks after Brenna was born, we got lots of cards saying things like “Congrats on the new addition.” It’s not that I don’t appreciate that sentiment but I think ‘addition’ is the wrong word. I think “fulfillment” is more what it’s like. Like God has been preparing Ali and me for becoming parents our whole lives. And on November 8, 2008, there was a fulfilling of what God has been creating for ages and ages.

We are certainly blessed!