My day was so busy today. Much like yours I’m sure. Up at 6:30 so that Cassady could be at the dentist by 8:00. Rushed her back to school and then off to run 1,739 errands! So much to do……so many places to be……..so many people to please and then POOF! The day is over before you know it!
In the middle of my 1,739 errands I found myself resting, for just a moment at a red light in a very busy intersection. Cars were zooming by or waiting to zoom by and the people in those cars were just as busy and caught up in their day as I was in mine. I was the first in line at the red light so I had a clear view of the entire intersection. As I was waiting, I was surprised to see an elderly gentleman crossing this busy intersection. He was probably in his 80’s and moving kind of slow as you can imagine. I watch with baited breath as he carefully put one foot in front of the other. He was not in a hurry. He was not caught up in all the activity around him. He was not even looking ahead of him. He was watching his feet…..his walk , if you will. He was very intentional in his steps….each and every one was taken with much thought and care. His only goal, at the moment, was to make it to the other side.
As I sat there, I began to think how the busyness of my life had forced me to fly through my days, checking things off my list with hardly any thought what so ever of the things going on around me.
I pondered, with deep regret, about the missed opportunities I was sure I had missed over the past few months. The opportunity to check on a friend, to strike up a conversation with the older lady in the grocery line, to smile and say good morning to a stranger….the list goes on and on. I believe there are God ordained ministry opportunities around us everyday……and I had missed them!
The more I thought about that old man’s walk, so careful and so intentional, the more I began to see how my life was so NOT intentional. I vowed to slow down a little. To be more intentional in my daily walk…….so I can make it to the other side.
That man was used by God that day….to slow me down a little and live intentionally.
Tonya, thanks for sharing and reminding us to slow down. Love you and miss you! It was great to see you sunday morning!!! We need to get together again soon!!!! Love, Shelia
Thanks…needed that…wondering how intentional my day was. Goals? Yes, I met them…taught, graded, tutored, voted, walmarted…but did I do it all with God’s intentions? Or did I do it to get through my to-do list? Unfortunately, I believe it was the latter…but I’ll be working on it being otherwise! 🙂
Great reminder Tonya!!
I was in a realtors office a few years back and one of the realtor’s friends came in to visit and just wanted to say hi to an old friend and the realtor bearly even acknowledged that she had come in to the room so needless to say the friend left, but on the way out the door she said in a quiet voice “you had better slow down and take time for your friends, because one day you will wake up and not have any”. I didn’t know for sure if the realtor had heard her what she said because she didn’t look up for about 2 minutes and then she asked me if I had heard what she said and then she repeated it back word for word to me. I wonder if God ever feels that way because we are always putting him on a shelf like an old dusty book. Thanks for your blessing today.
You couldn’t have said it better Tonya. I can accomplish a lot in one day and do my best but I may be giving up the “best” opportunities. Great point!
I am having a blast reading your blog. It makes me a little less homesick to hear about people I love.
To be intentional is to be a participant in your life, which opens the door to accountability.
Your thoughts become your words and your words become your actions, so your intentions start in your thoughts “What are you Focused on?” the accountability is asking yourself what did I focus on in my thoughts, where were my prayers and conversations with God today?
Living with intention starts in the mind.
Thanks lady bug for sharing with us your object lesson on intention.
You amaze me with your wisdom. Isn’t it neat how God uses the simplest things in life to show us something He wants us to learn. Keep writing what God layes on your heart, you never know who reads it and God blesses. I love ya girl.
I love reading what you have to post each day. You have made me smile and cry at some of your daily post. God has used your talent in so many ways.
Tonya, I love that you can capture in words the thoughts, hopes, fears and joys of the life that we are all living! Thank you for conveying such an important message.
Really good stuff Tonya! I, too, find myself atthe end of the say tired and worn out and not exactly sure what it was I did all day to get that way. I could see that wise senior as you described in my mind’s eye. If there had been a penny on the street, i like to think he would have picked it up! Sometimes we need a little lesson to show us a big truth. Thanks for sharing! I will be a regular at your blog! God Bless You and Yours!