'The bad news is time flies. The good news is you're the pilot.' Michael Althsuler
My supervisor posted this quote in the chat room last week. What an awesome quote! One of my coworkers made comments regarding turbulence and wind shears. As I chuckled at his comments, I began to think about this quote and his comments and how they apply to everyday life.
'The bad news is time flies....' Boy, does it ever! Sayings like, 'where did time go;' 'there's never enough time;' 'time is of the essence,' come to mind. We look around and time has 'slipped by.' We put off until tomorrow those things we don't have time for today. Then tomorrow comes and goes, not slowing or stopping to allow us to accomplish those things that we should have done yesterday.
'The good news is you're the pilot.' Yes, that could be good news, depending on how we handle our time. I guess this part of the quote says we are in control of what we accomplish during the time given to us each day. It's all about making a choice, a decision, regarding what we do with our time. Do we put off those 'hard' things; those aggravating things; those 'boring' things until tomorrow. Okay, Scarlett O'Hara, "Tomorrow I'll think of some way...after all, tomorrow is another day," and then tomorrow comes and goes leaving behind the unfinished business of yesterday. Do we choose to procrastinate instead of dealing with today's challenges... today? I understand that some things take time. But are we working on those time consuming things....even a little bit at a time. Or are we choosing to put them off until we reach a point of being out of time? ??? Just a thought.
Visualizing the picture that this quote paints, I can see some of the obstacles we may run into as we attempt to swiftly pilot through the time given to us in our lifetime. My coworker mentioned turbulence. On our trip back from California in November of last year, we ran into turbulence. The captain forewarned us of the impeding turbulence; however, he did not stop the plane, but continued to pilot through. He used his time by preparing for the rough ride ahead. When turbulence hit, he was prepared and we were prepared. I am sure it was challenging, but he didn't waste time by panicking. He did what he was trained to do and safely navigated us to our destination. During our lifetime, we will hit some turbulence. Do we panic and not deal with it? Or do we continue to pilot through, knowing that ultimately, even though the plane is given to us to fly, God is in control. Jesus prepares us by both forewarning us and assuring us in John 16:33. So we can choose to trust that knowledge, our faith, to trust that we will make it to our destination, no matter how rocky the ride may be. Time stops for no one. We must keep going, knowing that this too (this turbulence) will pass.
Sometimes, as we pilot through life, we hit a wind shear. Something so forceful that it may knock us off course. Do we stop, too petrified to continue, while time continues to pass us by? Or do we take whatever steps are necessary to get back on track in a timely manner. In Romans 8:28-37 we are given the confidence that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ, no matter how forceful those wind shears may seem. We are more than conquerors, so choose to get back on course and keep going.
So time does fly, but it is up to us to make the best of it. With God's help we can successfully pilot through the time given to us each day and throughout our lifetime. The choice is ours minute by minute; hour by hour; day by day; week by week; month by month; year by year. What do you choose to do with your time right now?
Love ya,
Lolly
Monday, March 28, 2011
Thursday, March 3, 2011
A Tribute to Mommie
Today, March 2nd, is my grandmother's birthday. She was known to me and my brother as 'Mommie.' because she didn't want to be called any of those 'grandmotherly' names. And yes, she spelled it with 'ie' instead of 'y.' But she was every bit a grandmother and more to me and my bother. I loved her dearly.
Mommie was born on March 2, 1897 and died on January 11, 1985. She died of breast cancer that was not diagnosed until it was too late, because she didn't believe in doctors. She had been treating the cancer, topically, with 'home' remedies. It wasn't until my Aunt saw her getting dressed and saw that her breast was almost eaten away by cancer, that Mommie finally stubbornly agreed to go have it checked out. I'm stopping here to give a gentle reminder to all my female blog followers, as well as myself, to please have a mammogram done. The National Cancer Institute recommends having a screening mammogram done every 1 to 2 years. I know it is painful to have your 'boobs' smashed (as I call it), but it is necessary. There, I said it, now I will get off my soap box.
The influence of my grandmother, as well as my mother, helped to shape the person I am today. My grandmother was just as much a mom to me as my mother. Her home was my second home. My brother even returned to live with her after he got out of the Navy. I went home to Mommie's everyday after school. There, I had extended school of sorts. Mommie was a retired school teacher and she took advantage of every opportunity to 'school' me. I was writing in cursive long before my classmates, because Mommie taught me. She taught me English, Biology and yes, the dreaded History, which was her favorite. But more than academics, Mommie taught me about life. She was the one who had the 'talk' with me. My mom was uncomfortable discussing the 'birds and the bees' with me, but Mommie pulled no punches and shot straight.
Mommie took me to church with her until my parents decided to start to go to church regularly. At that time, she was Pentecostal, so church was kind of a different adventure to me. Not only did she take me to church, but she also talked to me about the Lord and the Bible. Those seeds that she planted took root in me and bore fruit when I accepted Christ. And not only did she 'talk the talk' but she lived it and her faith was strong and evident in her life. I remember a couple years ago, when my brother was struggling with believing in God, he said if there is a heaven, I know that Mommie (our grandmother), Ma (that's what he calls our mother) and you (yours truly) will be there.
Some grandparents take a 'hands off' approach to grandparenting, but not Mommie...literally. She was gentle, kind, and loving but there were consequences if you misbehaved. I only got three spankings in my life (yes, I deserved more) and two of the three were given by my grandmother. No sparing the rod and spoiling the child with her.
Mommie never complained about having me or my brother around. She seemed to enjoy it and so did we. It all seemed very natural and her love for us was genuine. Now as I consider my relationship with my grandchildren and how natural it feels to do the things that I do for them and how genuine my love is for them, I realize that Mommie lives on in me. I may not be exactly like her in many ways, but her influence is obvious in the way that I grandparent. I only recently realized that grand-parenting seems so natural to me because my grandmother had such a strong influence on my life.
I miss Mommie terribly, but I am thankful that she was my grandmother. She left a legacy of grand-parenting that hopefully I can emulate.
Happy Birthday, Mommie!
Mommie was born on March 2, 1897 and died on January 11, 1985. She died of breast cancer that was not diagnosed until it was too late, because she didn't believe in doctors. She had been treating the cancer, topically, with 'home' remedies. It wasn't until my Aunt saw her getting dressed and saw that her breast was almost eaten away by cancer, that Mommie finally stubbornly agreed to go have it checked out. I'm stopping here to give a gentle reminder to all my female blog followers, as well as myself, to please have a mammogram done. The National Cancer Institute recommends having a screening mammogram done every 1 to 2 years. I know it is painful to have your 'boobs' smashed (as I call it), but it is necessary. There, I said it, now I will get off my soap box.
The influence of my grandmother, as well as my mother, helped to shape the person I am today. My grandmother was just as much a mom to me as my mother. Her home was my second home. My brother even returned to live with her after he got out of the Navy. I went home to Mommie's everyday after school. There, I had extended school of sorts. Mommie was a retired school teacher and she took advantage of every opportunity to 'school' me. I was writing in cursive long before my classmates, because Mommie taught me. She taught me English, Biology and yes, the dreaded History, which was her favorite. But more than academics, Mommie taught me about life. She was the one who had the 'talk' with me. My mom was uncomfortable discussing the 'birds and the bees' with me, but Mommie pulled no punches and shot straight.
Mommie took me to church with her until my parents decided to start to go to church regularly. At that time, she was Pentecostal, so church was kind of a different adventure to me. Not only did she take me to church, but she also talked to me about the Lord and the Bible. Those seeds that she planted took root in me and bore fruit when I accepted Christ. And not only did she 'talk the talk' but she lived it and her faith was strong and evident in her life. I remember a couple years ago, when my brother was struggling with believing in God, he said if there is a heaven, I know that Mommie (our grandmother), Ma (that's what he calls our mother) and you (yours truly) will be there.
Some grandparents take a 'hands off' approach to grandparenting, but not Mommie...literally. She was gentle, kind, and loving but there were consequences if you misbehaved. I only got three spankings in my life (yes, I deserved more) and two of the three were given by my grandmother. No sparing the rod and spoiling the child with her.
Mommie never complained about having me or my brother around. She seemed to enjoy it and so did we. It all seemed very natural and her love for us was genuine. Now as I consider my relationship with my grandchildren and how natural it feels to do the things that I do for them and how genuine my love is for them, I realize that Mommie lives on in me. I may not be exactly like her in many ways, but her influence is obvious in the way that I grandparent. I only recently realized that grand-parenting seems so natural to me because my grandmother had such a strong influence on my life.
I miss Mommie terribly, but I am thankful that she was my grandmother. She left a legacy of grand-parenting that hopefully I can emulate.
Happy Birthday, Mommie!
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