Everything is temporary! Do you believe it? Well, as we reflect on the passing of our loved ones, it should be a reminder for all of us of how fleeting life is. It should remind us that we too have an assigned expiration date. This means we are only here for a short time. We do not know the time, place or even how our life will end, but it will.
When we begin to be conscious of that fact, we will begin to value life and let every moment count. We will realize and see that the people in our lives, and those around us, are only here for a fixed period of time. This should help us to build more meaningful relationships and teach us to show more appreciation for people while they are alive rather than waiting until they are gone.
We need to come to the understanding, also, that everything we hold dear in this life is temporary. One day they will all pass away – our earthly treasures, our careers, our positions, our status, every problem, every solution, every victory and every defeat. When we come to that realization, it should cause us to be humble, to treat others differently and to give God the glory for everything and everyone in our lives.
If things are good right now, enjoy them. They will not last forever. If things are bad, do not worry because they will not last forever either. Just because life is not easy at the moment, does not mean you cannot laugh. Just because something is bothering you, does not mean you cannot smile. Every moment gives you a new beginning and a new ending. You get a second chance, every second. You just have to take it and make the best of it.
You can choose to make the most of where you are positioned. You can choose to feel satisfied with the nature of your current experience and retain some meaningful lessons or forget it all. Nobody but you is responsible for what is happening, for what you are thinking and feeling. You alone have the ability to change your script. Once you have life, you can begin again.
The reality is, we live in the here and now – the past is forgotten, the future is yet to come but the now is what counts. Do not let the present be wasted by worrying over past and future issues. Take each moment of your life and live it to the utmost. Today is now – that is all we know, make the most of it now.
If the present is painful for you, and things are going badly, do not worry about that because that too is only temporary! Bad things will pass in time. Try not to focus on the unfortunate things. They will all change again. Nothing lasts forever.
So do not let anything get you down.
The only thing that is truly permanent in this life is change. We, as humans, are constantly evolving, and so is the world around us. We need to remind ourselves often how fast time goes by, and how temporary each moment is. When we think of life in terms of the temporal, it adds a layer of simplicity to things.
Emotions become easier to accept and they create space for us to become witnesses to them instead of reacting to or with them. When we realize that each emotion, whether good or bad, is only temporary, we begin to see that each passes by us rather quickly if we let it. Instead of getting stuck on how we are feeling from moment to moment, we can remind ourselves that “this too shall pass.”
Tomorrow is never guaranteed to us, so make sure the ones you love and those who support you know they are loved and appreciated. Cherish your moments together because you never know when that person may exit your life. Everything can change in the blink of an eye, whether we like it or not. We must learn to delight in what is here in the now, right this very moment.
We must develop an attitude of gratitude for what is right in front of us. We must understand that when things feel like they are going wrong, they can also turn around in an instant. Just as we feel like we are on cloud nine, a storm could hit and send us back down to reality.
When we think of life in terms of things being transitory, we shift our perceptions and really focus on the things that really matter in life. What this tells all of us is that NOW is the time to make it right with God and our fellowmen because right now is temporary. It reminds us that we should never get too caught up with the unnecessary things of life. Each moment is fleeting and passes along, with whatever it contains.
Let us not take life and time for granted anymore. They are precious. Let us not take the people in our lives for granted, either, because they can all be gone tomorrow or even today. Let your time with them count. Do not let tragedy, loss, and challenges drive you to give up. Neither allow them to push you in complete despair or stop you from moving forward.
Let us live each day to its fullest – by gaining as much wisdom as possible and doing as much good as we can. We can make a difference in the lives of those we touch and be a positive influence for good. Worldly possessions and fame are temporary, but God’s Love and Wisdom are eternal. Refuse to live your life in vain by seeking after those things that do not last. “We only have one life and it will soon pass. Only what is done for Christ will last.” Let us heed the words of John Wesley:
“Do all the good you can, By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can, In all the places you can,
At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as ever you can.”
Remember Life is temporary – and a life lived without Christ is a wasted life.
About the Author: Mrs. Marilyn Hodge owns and operates the Wellness Centre in the Farrington, Anguilla. The Centre offers Counselling Services by Appointment Only and has now published Positive Living Volume 2. Contact information: 476-3517 or email: marilynb@anguillanet.com. www.facebook.com/axawellnesscentre.
