Tag Archives: Matthew 6:33

Yesterday – Today – Tomorrow

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Tis the season for some folks to enjoy their Christmas gifts, those blessed to receive them. Tis the season for others to return their gifts for something they wanted more or a different size. (I purposefully avoided the stores yesterday!)

I love the gifts that don’t need returned to the store:
– Seeing all my family on one day (one via Skype video call to South Korea).
– Hugs and laughter!
– Loving others and being loved unconditionally.
– Remembering again that the most important things in life aren’t things.
– Making family memories.
– The quiet peace at the end of the day when you and God both say, “This was good. let’s do it again!”

It is said:
“Yesterday is the past – learn from it.
Tomorrow is the future – prepare for it.
Today is the present – enjoy this gift from God.”

We are advised to not dwell in the past, but it’s good and profitable to visit it long enough to glean important lessons learned. One of the lessons I’ve learned (again) this past year is how futile it is to spend too much time preparing for the future since we have no real control of it and it changes so drastically. Still, it seems prudent to invest in the future, particularly by building and exercising your faith today. How in the world would we have drawn on our faith to sustain us through this first year with Leukemia if we had not made a great many faith ‘deposits’ when life was less perilous?!

What is the gift of today?

It is being fully awake and aware that time marches on and waits for no one. It is being aware of who God is and who we are in his sight. It is an adventure to be lived, a treasure hunt for the blessings God intends for you to discover and enjoy and share with others. Today is intended to be unwrapped and enjoyed. It is a day for giving thanks, remembering the ways you have been gifted in the past. It is a day for putting an end to things that hurt you and others! It is a day for forgiving. Today is for giving up trying to control the future or worry about it and to give up things from the past that enslave you. It is a fresh opportunity to enjoy God’s presence.

Today is a gift. Enjoy it fully.

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:33-34

Two Month Progress Report

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It’s hard to believe that it has already been two months since my stem cell transplant. In many ways God has blessed me to be way ahead of the curve. For example, the engraftment of my donor cells took place in one month versus the expected three. I have had comparatively quite a bit of energy and few significant issues. A low grade fever last night was quickly resolved, indicating to me that the donor cells are doing their job and also reminding me how important it is for me to continue precautions, especially during this first 100 days. I am able to get out into the community with a mask, while avoiding large crowds. I miss being at church and hope to return as my immunity allows me to be around larger groups of people. I am able to visit with healthy people. In fact, even though visits sometimes tire me, they also pump me up, so the overall effect is a positive gain. This Leukemia experience has revealed to me how lonely chronic illness can be and causes me to reflect on how sensitive I have or have not been to others’ needs when they were ill. I need to do better.

Going off the steroid has led me from mania to extreme fatigue. (I can’t believe I needed two naps today) and the skin burns are getting old. Mental acuity is a bit improved, allowing me focus on budget and project planning for an hour or so at a time. Even though you cannot ignore challenges like this, you can rise above them. my brother’s wisdom has helped me quite a bit:

We can’t focus on what’s been taken away. We have to focus on what we have been given.

This has been very applicable in our situation where health, freedom, job/income, abilities were all taken away at once. But what we have been given is a closer relationship with each other and with God, a greater sensitivity to our real identity in Christ and to others, and time to heal and to minister to those around us.

Focusing on what’s been taken away brings despair and regret. Focusing on what God has given us brings hope, thanksgiving and joy…and a renewed passion for living fully for Jesus.

What things have been taken away from you that have captivated too much of your attention? Focus instead on the things you have been given and find the joy and peace that come with cultivating a thankful heart throughout each day.

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33