525,600 Minutes

My youngest daughter & I spent the afternoon together running errands around town and enjoying a daddy-daughter Starbucks date. I love spending one-on-one time with her and hearing the thoughts that are rolling around in her head. As she and I talked about the end of the year, she expressed her disbelief that 2012 is coming to an end and that we are about to begin another new year. I understand exactly what she was saying--it certainly seems like the year has sped by without a whole lot of advance warning.

The truth is that we all have the exact same amount of time in a year. It isn't portioned out differently if you are busier than most, wiser than your peers, or have more money than the GNP of a third world country. We don't lose increments of time when we choose to speak rashly, sleep longer than we intended, or keep repeating our mistakes. This timely gift we receive each year is the same regardless of social status, geographic location, ethnicity, or religious beliefs.

The results of the investment of our time will be what separates us from everyone else. We have the potential for our families to grow stronger, our confidence in God to increase, our impact to multiply exponentially, and our spirit to be transformed. Our 525,600 minutes move forward at the same rate as everyone else. With the right focus, however, the results of our efforts bring greater satisfaction and reward.

Wise Investments

When I taught high school my main subject was Health. I spent the first four years of teaching fixated on the idea of getting my students to remember all of the important facts about their health decisions-leading causes of death for age groups, the dangerous chemicals in tobacco, signs of alcohol abuse, STD statistics, etc. I figured out after those first years that no one really remembered any of those details and that my opportunity to have the greatest impact wasn't in the regurgitation of facts. I then spent the next five years teaching the importance of decision making and understanding that what we decide to do today will have short & long term benefits and consequences.

That is true of more than just a health class. We are making an investment each day in our future and not just in a financial sense. What we commit ourselves to today will determine where we end up. If we are wise with our finances we have the ability to be generous when God presents the opportunity. When we will engage and talk with our children even though we are tired at the end of the day, we are building a bridge for a deeper and meaningful relationship when they are older. If we will take the time to make sure that our spouse knows we love them today in a simple way it builds a foundation for a relationship that will endure tough times. When we make the commitment to healthy eating and exercise it creates a lifelong discipline that avoids the start & stop exercise regimen that most of us find ourselves in. If we are willing to step away from the computer or television so that we can intentionally engage in prayer and Scripture we develop a reliance on God that will strengthen our commitment to Him in good times and in bad.

Even as adults we need to see that what we do now is making an investment in our future. Our vision for that needs to be lived out in the decisions we make today.

Galatians 6:7 "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. People reap what they sow."