Momentary

Reading Jon Acuff's post, The Truth about this Moment, I was struck by the profound simplicity of his reminder: Fear can deceive us into believing our temporary troubles are forever.

"Right now, isn’t forever.
Right now is just right now.
It’s a season.
It’s passing even as you read this post.
It will be over before you know it and you’ll be in a new season."
-Jon Acuff

I confess I am in a sweet season right now, so I savored the truth of his words before tucking them away for comfort during a more challenging time in my life. Then bedtime rolled around.

We are already enjoying an extended Thanksgiving break, so as we went through our nightly routine, I was relaxed. There was no bickering about homework. No negotiations over bedtime. We have no alarms set for tomorrow morning. Instead of fretting, I was able to pay a bit more attention. With fresh and unhurried eyes, I noticed a lot.

How much taller P looks standing in front of the bathroom counter. The little pooch in his belly, despite his thin frame. How he still forgets his L sound when he is really tired, causing him to mumble, "I'm sweepy." The way he wraps his lovies around his neck like a towel as he burrows into bed. The fact that he still frequently goes to bed with his glasses on.

As I moved into the next bedroom, I was struck by how long R appears as he is tucked into bed. His manly, serious expression as he props his pillow to read by lamplight. He still has much to tell me at bedtime, including his theories on what position to sleep in to avoid nightmares. How tightly he wraps his arms around me. The way he spins my earring back as I am praying with him.

The experience repeats itself as I go to kiss K. Her dark curls swirling over her head on her pillow. Her word choice as I asked how she felt about today's news that she will be wearing glasses. ("A bit anxious combined with a little excited.") The compassion and maturity in her prayers for homeless and hungry people, quickly followed by questions about black holes. The way she carefully peruses her drawer full of stuffed animals deciding who all will be sleeping in her bed that night. Her soft request as I am walking past her doorway for "just one last hug, Mommy?"

The fact of that matter is that it's not just the bad things that fall into the category of 'only a season.' The sentiment applies to many of the sweet things too. Different seasons will bring their share of triumphs and challenges. The reminder that 'this won't last forever' can be encouraging or painful, depending on what type of season you are in.

I find that fear can capture me on both sides of the equation. The fear that my circumstances will never change AND the fear that they will. But God is the Lord of ALL of it. Yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Don’t worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks for what you have. And because you belong to Christ Jesus, God’s peace will stand guard over all your thoughts and feelings. His peace can do this far better than our human minds. Philippians 4:6-7 (ERV)

Just as tough circumstances are not forever, the sweet moments aren't either. As we focus on turkey & gratitude this week, I am thankful for His Provision through it all. It is not for me to fear what my come or what may go. "Whatever my lot, thou has taught me to say, it is well, it is well with my soul." May we consider it all in light of eternity.

There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever. 2 Corinthians 4:18 (The Message)

Lord, help me pay attention with a grateful heart and move forward with a trusting one.