TheWRITEaddiction.com

In the wake of the tragic events surrounding Ferguson, Missouri over the last couple of weeks, I am reminded of the fleeting nature of our lives.  James 4:14 says, “How do you know what is going to happen tomorrow? For the length of your lives is as uncertain as the morning fog—now you see it; soon it is gone.” (TLB)

As a parent, we cannot predict if our children will live to finish high school, go to college, enter a career, get married, have children and enjoy a long and happy life.  We do not know if they will leave this earth before we do, but one thing we do know is we can live with no regrets.  God forbid our children are snatched away from us through a tragic car accident, a terminal illness, murder or some other unimaginable event.  One thing I can do is make sure I have done all I can to live with no regrets.

This year, I have made a conscious effort to spend quality time with my children every day whether it’s allowing them to help me cook dinner, reading a book with them before bed, or watching them act in one of their made up skits.  I was prompted to do this when my daughter told me she had an activity at school last year in which she had to write her parent’s favorite thing to do.  She wrote that my favorite thing to do was WORK.  Of course, I quickly told her that WORK was not my favorite thing to do but it has to be done.  It made me realize that most of the time, she saw me working on the computer or talking on the phone which is part of my daily work routine.  She rarely saw me relaxing or just being “mom”.

Fast forward a year and I am learning to make the most of the moments we are given with our children.  More importantly than telling them “I love you”, I am showing them I love them by being “present” and available in their lives.  Many times, we are caught up in the rat race of life and lose focus on what’s really important.  I want to live a life of no regrets–not a life of I wish I had done this or I wish I could change that.  Starting today, I am making time for what’s important—being the mother I was placed on this earth to be.  If we are truly honest, we can all re-prioritize to make sure we are living with no regrets!

~Coletta Jones Patterson