Incompleteness of the present

 

Thank you, The Nester. I needed this quote today.



 

Life will never be complete, will it? I mean, we don't really want it to be because then what would we live for? What would we do? Yet I often find myself longing to "arrive" or reach an endpoint. Most things in life just aren't like that. They overlap and intersect and rarely do we realize we've reached the end of something because something else has taken our time or attention. Then those things that we long to be over or finished with are but distant memories and fleeting thoughts.

 

I want my son to end his whiny phase. Chances are one day I'll look back and wonder when he stopped. Will I even notice? It'll probably be months down the road and I'll look back and think, "He has really grown. He's come a long way. I haven't heard him whine in weeks!" But there won't be a celebration. He's not going to wake up one morning and decide not to whine anymore (though I wouldn't put it past that boy. When he sets his mind to something, he does it).

But chances are that stage will be replaced with a "talking back" stage or "annoying his sister" stage...oh, wait. Are we already there? See what I mean by overlapping?

 

So I think instead of trying to see the end or getting through a certain period of time, it's best to focus on "the goodness of what is" as Ms. Breedlove says above.

 

And perhaps that isn't at all what she intended when she said these words, but this is what I've received from it today. And it's given my heart peace.

 

There is so much "goodness of what is" right in front of me.

My son's curiosity and tenacity.

My daughter's imagination and independence.

My husband's willingness and calm spirit.

My friend's loving heart and sweet words.

My co-workers' fortitude and support.

My mom's consistency and wisdom.

My God is strong and unchanging.

 

Isaiah 40

²⁸ Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
    and his understanding no one can fathom.
²⁹ He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
³¹ but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint. 

 

Hebrews 13

⁸ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.