Moments to treasure, days to embrace

I continue to be amazed at the changing face of time. From the childlike, slow-moving days of the 1960s to the hurried pace of adult life in the 2020s, the second hand spins the moments away. There’s no slowing down – just a constant forward move into tomorrow, and all that lies ahead.
The 1960s found me as a child in my parents’ home, eagerly waiting for Christmas morning and all the joy it brought. In the 1970s, I was stretching my boundaries and learning to stand on my own. The 1980s brought changes of marriage and children, along with the busyness of life I had observed through my parents’ example. The 1990s were a whirlwind of movement, leading into a new century, where my children found their place in the rhythms of home and family life.
Through it all, family has been the steady thread weaving through these changing seasons. The laughter shared around the table, the quiet moments of guidance, and even the challenges that tested patience and understanding – all of these have reminded me that love endures, grows, and anchors us. Watching my children step into their own journeys, I see the cycle of care and connection continue, and I am reminded that family, in its many forms, is where life’s deepest lessons and quietest joys are often discovered.
How many times have we said, “If I could do it all over again?” So often, we look back with longing or regret. But the lessons and missteps of the past cannot be undone.
However, we can step into today and tomorrow carrying the wisdom, grace, and hope we have received, trusting that life will carry us into new seasons and opportunities yet to be experienced. Just as the hands of a clock never pause, each day brings an invitation from God: to step forward, notice the blessings already given, and embrace the gifts to come. Renewal is possible when hope is plausible, and hope is always waiting in the moments ahead.
This hope is not just wishful thinking – it is rooted in Scripture, which reminds us that each day is a fresh start and a gift from the Lord. It is through His great love that we experience His compassion. Even when yesterday carries regret, God’s mercy meets us today, giving us the chance to begin again with hope in our hearts (Lamentations 3:22–23).
And this same God who meets us with mercy also calls us to look ahead with expectation. As Isaiah 43:19 tells us, God is always doing something new in our lives, and we are invited to notice it. Even in the midst of routine, challenges, or uncertainty, God is at work, creating new opportunities and opening doors we might not yet see. Each day brings a chance to recognize His movement and to step into the new ways He is leading us forward.
As we step into a new year, we can cherish the memories and wisdom of the years gone by – the lessons learned, joys, and struggles that shaped us. These reflections remind us of God’s faithfulness through every season. Yet we are not meant to dwell on the past. Each new year offers the chance to step forward with intention, embrace fresh beginnings, and live with hope and purpose. With God’s guidance, we can carry the best of what we have learned into the days ahead, creating new moments of joy, love, and service – for ourselves and those around us.
You crown the year with your bounty, your carts overflow with abundance. Psalm 65:11

Editor: This is a repeat of a column that appeared in January 2024.