Time

January 1. 

A time of reflection and excitement.  What will the new year bring?

For a few years I have picked a word and posted it in a place I'll see it daily (in my bathroom!).  I've used iChoose, abundance, scatter sunshine, fear not.  This year my word is

----TIME----

Here are my thoughts...

 

First we have Ecclesiasted Chapter 3

1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

 

How am I spending my time?  Is it a time to ____________ or a time to ___________ or a time to???  I wonder sometimes if I'm spending my time in the right way.  There are lots of things I WANT to do and more things I NEED to do....  In reference to a talk given a few years ago by Elder Oaks, I just sometimes can't determine what is good, what is better, and what is best.  But in trying to make the decisions of what to do with my time, I will try to reflect a little more on these things.

 

I want to use my time to have no regrets, per Elder Uchtdorf's talk from general conference. Here is a quote to get us started...

The more we devote ourselves to the pursuit of holiness and happiness, the less likely we will be on a path to regrets.

One of those pursuits includes time spent with family.  I feel like I am with my family ALL THE TIME!  But what kind of time am I spending with them?  Sometimes I feel like a drill sergeant...GET YOUR HOMEWORK DONE!  UNLOAD THIS DISHWASHER!  TAKE A SHOWER! GET YOUR SHOES ON!  I need to make sure I'm doing the quality focusing on the face kind of listening and hanging out. 

If we fail to give our best personal self and undivided time to those who are truly important to us, one day we will regret it.  Let us resolve to cherish those we love by spending meaningful time with them, doing things together, and cultivating treasured memories.
 

And I didn't know how to summarize or break this up because it is so good...

Our Heavenly Father sees our real potential. He knows things about us that we do not know ourselves. He prompts us during our lifetime to fulfill the measure of our creation, to live a good life, and to return to His presence.

Why, then, do we devote so much of our time and energy to things that are so fleeting, so inconsequential, and so superficial? Do we refuse to see the folly in the pursuit of the trivial and transient?

Would it not be wiser for us to “lay up for [ourselves] treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal”?⁵

How do we do this? By following the example of the Savior, by incorporating His teachings in our daily lives, by truly loving God and our fellowman.

We certainly cannot do this with a dragging-our-feet, staring-at-our-watch, complaining-as-we-go approach to discipleship.

When it comes to living the gospel, we should not be like the boy who dipped his toe in the water and then claimed he went swimming. As sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father, we are capable of so much more. For that, good intentions are not enough. We must do. Even more important, we must become what Heavenly Father wants us to be.

Declaring our testimony of the gospel is good, but being a living example of the restored gospel is better. Wishing to be more faithful to our covenants is good; actually being faithful to sacred covenants—including living a virtuous life, paying our tithes and offerings, keeping the Word of Wisdom, and serving those in need—is much better. Announcing that we will dedicate more time for family prayer, scripture study, and wholesome family activities is good; but actually doing all these things steadily will bring heavenly blessings to our lives.
 

So, this year I will be thinking about time.  How I am spending it, how I am using it, how I am preparing myself to meet God.  (Alma 34:32).  I want to give up my procrastination habits (starting today and not tomorrow!)  President Monson said,

Someone has said that procrastination is the thief of time. Actually, procrastination is much more. It is the thief of our self-respect. It nags at us and spoils our fun. It deprives us of the fullest realization of our ambitions and hopes.
 

I am pretty good at getting things done, but I want to be more deliberate about how and when and what I am doing. 

2013...it's ABOUT TIME!