11 January 2020
My daughter, Marie (“My Marie”) turned 39 years old yesterday! Humm, …it got me thinking! A lot has happened since that cute little girl and her six brothers and sisters lost their Mommy …and I became a single Dad. Early on in those “Single Parent” days, while we were all sleeping quietly in our beds, I would often awake in the night with the sense I was being watched. Opening my eyes, I could see the shadowy image of a little curly-haired blonde girl standing by the side of my bed …quietly staring at me in the darkness. Not a word was spoken. I would just reach my arm out and softly roll her over me …and onto the far side of the bed beside me. She was my beautiful little 3-year-old girl, my sweet Marie.
Since those days (and in addition to the fact that Marie has married a man taller, stronger, and better looking than me, and she has four beautiful children of her own) life has been good. (Random note: I love hearing my grandchildren call my daughters “Mom.”) Anyway, as a family, my children and I have all grown and moved along with our lives with growing families of our own. Yet, we still love each other and keep in close contact. After all, we are still a family. Despite our foibles and a few setbacks, I’m proud of our family, and I love them all.
Nevertheless, today I’m having what might be referred to as “a mid-winter introspection.” I am 74 years old, relatively healthy, comfortably retired, and my eyes are wide open. I have time to think! Life has been good, and I’m a happy man! However, I am also at a point where I often wonder: “what more can I do?” Or “…What am I not doing that I should be doing?” These are two very profound and personal questions …questions I must answer for myself. These two questions/thoughts come to me periodically …and often! They usually cause me to stop and pause in thought. “What SHOULD I be doing?” I appreciate the following quote from a former President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:
“We are not here to while away the hours of this life and then pass to a sphere of exaltation, but we are here to qualify ourselves day by day for the positions that our Father expects us to fill hereafter.”
President George Albert Smith (1870-1951):
As I think about these things, I am growing to appreciate more fully the value of “TODAY.” I realize each day is a unique gift full of opportunities! And I need to anticipate and prepare for each day. During my life, I have had many opportunities and blessings. I have joy, happiness and great memories from the past. And I’m excited about the future. But “TODAY” is now! It is what I have been given, and I control “MY TODAYS.” I am excited about “TODAY.”
Building on this idea about the value and importance of “TODAY,” I was reminded of a great quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson:
“One of the illusions of life is that the present hour is not the critical, decisive hour. Write it on your heart that every day is the best day of the year. He only is rich who owns the day, and no one owns the day who allows it to be invaded with worry, fret, and anxiety. Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be cumbered with your old nonsense. This day is all that is good and fair. It is too dear, with its hopes and invitations, to waste a moment on yesterdays.”
So, what about my time “TODAY?” What should I be doing “TODAY?” Frankly, in my retirement, this is a question I often ponder. What I do is up to me! “Will I make good choices?” I’ve noticed that much of what I do each day is out of my control: sleeping, working, cleaning, laundry, taking the trash out, shopping, shoveling the snow, etc. But I also have adequate “discretionary time” …free time or available time. So, how should I use my discretionary time? I don’t want to waste it. I’ve also noticed, “it’s difficult to fully plan discretionary time.” I don’t always know what opportunities will come my way. But I do know they will come. That said, I need to be ready, willing, and looking for opportunities that come my way. I am confident that if I’m “ready, willing and diligently looking for opportunities,“ relying on the influence of the Holy Spirit, all will be well “TODAY,” …and I will more likely NOT miss the opportunities coming to me. In addition, I will more likely recognize them and will know “what more I can do” and “what I should be doing.” It’s just up to me to be alert to opportunities, and just do it. “Just Do It!” Furthermore, as I do it, I will be better prepared for yet another “TODAY” full of opportunities.
Footnote: President Spencer W. Kimball famously had a sign on his desk that read simply: “Just Do It!” I like that sign! And, I have had one in my office for many years! In fact, I still have the sign prominently displayed on my bookshelf. “Thank you, President Kimball!”
“Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend.”
“And again, believe that ye must repent of your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God; and ask in sincerity of heart that he would forgive you; and now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them.” (Mosiah 4:9–10, Book of Mormon)
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