Time
She was bound and determined.
Where most women failed, she was going to prove, not only to her boss, but to her parents, friends, and most of all to herself, that she could make it. That she could succeed in a male-dominated career field. But not only succeed, thrive, excel, climb that corporate ladder and rise to the top. She was bound and determined to make the American Dream come true in her life.
She had no siblings, and although her father never said so, she knew he had hoped for a son. She never questioned her parents’ love for her though. But she wanted to make them proud of her. She wanted to prove that she could still be just as successful if she had been born a boy.
So when the job opening came, she went for it. It was an upper management position in her department and it included a significant raise. She knew it would require a huge time commitment, but she was willing to make the sacrifice. It meant less time at home, less time with her parents, and worst of all, less time with her son. He would have to stay longer at daycare, but maybe she could get her mom and dad to pick him up and watch him until she got home. It might even require a few weekends here and there, but she was sure they would agree. “I know they would love more time with their only grandson,” she thought.
The competition would be tough, she knew…and all men. But she knew she had the talent – she just had to convince them she was willing to put in the time and effort to do what it takes. She wasn’t going to let anything or anyone get in the way of her getting this new position.
When the call came she nearly jumped out of her skin. Had they picked someone already? She knew they had finished interviews late yesterday, but this was fast. Her hand was visibly trembling as she reached for the phone on her desk. As she put the receiver to her ear she was relieved her voice sounded normal compared to the clamor that was raging in her heart and stomach.
“This is Anne”
“Hey honey, how are you?”
It was her dad. Her DAD! She nearly fell out of her chair.
“Dad! What are you doing calling me at work?? Is everything ok? Did something happen to Mom?”
“Everything’s fine Annie. I just wanted to talk to you for a bit. Do you have a minute?”
After her heart slowed down and started beating normally again, she finally said, “Yeah, I guess so. Just for a few minutes though. I have a lot of work to do.”
“I promise I won’t be long,” he said.
Her dad rarely called her at work, so she was anxious to know the reason for his call.
“I know you have applied for the upper management position. I know it is very important to you. And I know it’s something you have worked very hard for and you have your heart set on. But I am worried that it isn’t right for you, that you are investing your life in the wrong thing, and that this investment is going to cost you too much. I know you believe that this is what you want, and so this is what you are going to give your time to. But my fear is that you will only become enslaved to it, and that it will end up consuming you.”
“I know you’ve had a hard time in the past. But you mustn’t let fear rule your choices. You are a strong woman, I know…you’re my daughter. And whatever you set your mind on, you accomplish. But what are you setting your mind on, love? Is it making sure your future is all planned out? Is it wanting to get ahead? Is it proving a point? Jim Elliot, a man I have always admired once said, ‘God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him’.”
“You have a beautiful little boy Annie. Your son needs his mom, not his mom’s money. He needs his mom’s time, not his mom’s apologies. He needs a mom that will show him how to live life with God in charge of all aspects of living…not just church on Sunday. And when he grows up, his life will be the evidence of how you spent your time.”
“I know you think I wanted a son. But the second I laid eyes on you cradled in your mother’s arms, you had my heart! I could hardly breathe, you were so beautiful! You were all I wanted, my Annie-girl. And your mother and I have tried to give you all the time we could to prove that. I know my own job sometimes took me away from you, away from giving my time and energy in advancing the gospel…and God taught me a hard lesson from it. There has to be a balance Annie. So please rethink this. And rethink how you invest your time. Invest every day, every moment, every right-now in things that last eternally. So that at the end of your life, you can look back and see that nothing was wasted.”
“So, teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”
Psalm 90:12
Time is a fragment of eternity given by God to mankind as a gift to steward; one day God will call each one of us to give an account of how we have used it.
How do you use your time? Do you ask God for the ability to see the importance of each and every day?
Do you ask for wisdom to do what God himself would do in each and every circumstance?
Life is too short…
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” –Jim Elliot
Dear Father, sometimes I feel like there just aren’t enough hours in the day! I get up in the morning and before I know it, my head is hitting the pillow and I can’t remember a single thing I did that actually accomplished anything! I feel like if I slow down, things won’t get done! But I know, even Your Son took time to get away. Help me to see each day as a gift. Show me ways to slow down and see time as something to steward, just like anything else. Thank you Lord. Amen.
