All or Nothing

 

There are so many opportunities for growth that present themselves to us in everyday life. Opportunities to grow in our prayer life, in virtue, in healthy habits, in relationships...the list goes on.  

Yet it has struck me many times now (perhaps due to my oft repeated experience of it, haha) that we so often pass over these little opportunities because we are waiting for a time that we can do it more perfectly and completely, or in more ideal circumstances. We stand at the foot of the path, but wait to embark until some future time, whether that be the next season of our life, or an unspecified time in the future. 

We wait to grow in our prayer life because we can't fit in a whole hour of mental prayer in the morning, so rather than do the 15 minutes we can, we do none; planning to pursue mental prayer "when things get a little less busy." We wait to grow in virtue because we want the fresh start of a new week to begin practice of the one we wish to acquire. We wait to grow in healthy habits because we can't work out every day, or we can't have a homecooked meal every evening. So rather than do the healthy bits we can, we just continue our lifestyle as it is. With relationships, we look to the future and think of things we can do to grow the relationships we have with our spouse, with our children, with our family, and with dear friends, but it all remains a goal for future times, because today is just too busy for that, and we'll make time for it next week. 

 

My dearest little friends, what a sad mistake we make when we leave for some ideal future time the progress that could be made in baby steps today, tomorrow, and the next day. How quickly life passes, and by the time we realize that there actually is no ideal time that will come, and that every season presents its challenges that seem to impede any significant progress, we will not have the time left ahead of us to undertake the growth in baby steps. 

 

The little opportunities to grow that are sprinkled throughout each day are gifts to us from Our Heavenly Father. Knowing our littleness, He gently and lovingly draws us slowly to perfection in the midst of the simple occurrences of daily life, here and now in the present. 

 

Let us stop waiting for the "perfect time." Let us stop waiting for the new week. Let us stop waiting until life gets less busy. Rather, let us embrace each moment as it comes, finding the growth offered to us throughout every day. These little decisions to seize the simple daily opportunities add up. They form deeply rooted habits that have been planted and grown in the reality of everyday life and are all the stronger for that fact. 

 

Today is the day. 

 

~ Cecilia

Post edited by A.R. Staggenborg