As Christmas approaches I’ve thought quite a bit about how much people procrastinate as I’ve been riding. We have all year to plan and yet on Dec 24th many will be hustling around trying to get those final gifts purchased. It’s not just at Christmas when we procrastinate. I can remember when I was in school, the teachers would give us a big assignment and plenty of time to get it done, yet I would find myself cramming and burning the midnight oil trying to get it done on time.
Why do we wait? Why do we add that extra stress to our lives by not starting on things immediately and working on it gradually until it’s complete? I’ve thought about this on the past several rides and I know the answers are different for different people. For me, I guess it’s that most times I work better under pressure. I actually focus more once it’s “down to the wire ” and has to be done. I need to know ahead so I can process it in my mind, then when it’s time I just get it done, whatever it takes.
Sometimes when we put things off, it may actually be because God is wanting us to wait and is leading us not to make that decision or say what we’re thinking right now. He has a better plan and it requires us to wait. I’ve mentioned briefly in past ramblings that my hubby made a change lately that I’m very proud of him for doing. I’ve wanted this change for longer than you can imagine, but it happened in God’s time. As always His timing is best. By the change happening when it did, we have been able to spend time together since before Thanksgiving and we will be able to continue to do so right through the New Year. Had he not waited until the “right time”, this would not have been the case. Now because he waited, we’ve had family time, picked out and decorated our tree together, been able to drive around at night to see the Christmas light displays that others have put up, and gone Christmas shopping together. We have had quality and quantity time that we’ve not had for the past 6 + years and it’s been amazing. Our kids are grown now and we are anticipating our granddaughter’s first Christmas. We may not see her on Christmas day due to a virus she now has, but in God’s time we will get to see her open her gifts. We were able to see her look at the tree and the little village under it last week. It’s a village my son, her dad, has been purchasing for me over the years. It was so sweet to see her interest and curiosity in it at just 9 months old.
Everything is new and exciting to a child. Why do we often lose that excitement as adults? It seems to be the same way with our Christian walk. When we are first saved, we are excited, like sponges absorbing everything we can about our Savior. Then over the years we seem to sometimes lose that excitement. As I thought about this I also realized this is one of those decisions we can only put off so long, then it’s too late. We can say we believe in God and we believe that Jesus was born, died and rose again. Even Satan believes in Him though. That’s why he tries so hard to plant seeds of doubt and to tempt us. It’s not enough to believe in Him. We must accept Him as our Savior and live for Him. While Christmas celebrates His birth, don’t forget it’s just the beginning of the story.
Psalm 18:2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Ramblings of a Christian Grandma Biker 