October 13, 2016

Aware

31 Days of Practicing Faith

In October, I am free writing for five minutes a day—raw and unedited—on practicing faith in the every day. Each day is based on a different prompt from 31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes.

{Day 13} – Aware

There is this awareness in the back of my mind every moment of the day. I may not be consciously thinking about our upcoming move but it motivates every decision. My eyes are more open to the opportunities around me—to each “last” that presents itself, to each precious moment I want to soak in before it is too late.

My sister asked us out to eat. We normally try to save money and don’t eat out much, but I said we will go without hesitation. On the drive to the restaurant, my husband and I talked about how it is about being with family and not about the actual meal. Time with them is more important than saving a few dollars now.

When I was asked what I wanted for my birthday my thoughts didn’t turn to all the items we need for our international move. I told my family allI really wanted was a weekend in the North Georgia mountains. I wanted to see the leaves change in all their fiery glory, to pick apples alongside my parents, and to hold my kids tight as the hayride bumps over the uneven hills of a pumpkin patch.

I stop to notice the moments I missed before. I find time for a six-hour dinner with a friend, for coffee out on the back porch while the kids play, for carving pumpkins with my daughter’s second-grade class. The days are still flying by but I try to grab hold of them for just a little bit longer before they slip through my fingers. As the days count down and each opportunity could be the last time, at least for a couple years, to meet a friend or see a fall sunrise—I am aware of it. My choices are based on seizing every opportunity I can.

I wish it hadn’t taken leaving to open my eyes to the beauty all around me…

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