Are You Missing the Moments That Matter Most?

In each of our lives there is a level of tension when it comes to the issue of time. It’s a fight for each of us at some point – some of us more than others. I often joke that I keep praying for more than a 24-hour day, but God never sees fit to grant me that request.

I’ve come to realize, though, that it’s time I wave a white flag in surrender. Fighting time is a battle no one will ever win. Time continually passes and we have no control over it. There simply is no fight to be won.

Yet there is a fight worth fighting. It’s a fight to not miss the moments that matter.

It’s a battle of chronos versus kairos.

The Bible talks about three kinds of time. Chronos and kairos are two of those Greek words used.

Chronos refers to sequential time. It is the time that continually moves from the past to the present and into the future. The one of which we have no control.

Kairos refers to a right or opportune moment. It’s the moments of our lives. The ones creating markers within the fabric of our memories and making us into who we are today. They determine the kind of legacy we leave behind.

However, this is what I wonder …

As we rush from one thing to the other, burying our heads in our phones and other digital devices, and frantically checking off items on our to-do lists, are we missing out on the moments that matter? Are we too distracted to make the most of the ones that really matter?

As we fight the boundaries of chronos, are we losing the fight to soak in the kairos that matters?

Therefore see that you walk carefully [living life with honor, purpose, and courage; shunning those who tolerate and enable evil], not as the unwise, but as wise [sensible, intelligent, discerning people], making the very most of your time [on earth, recognizing and taking advantage of each opportunity and using it with wisdom and diligence] … -Ephesians 5:15-16 AMP

Don’t get me wrong, keeping our minds from racing and our emotions from distracting is a tough thing. But it’s a thing worth fighting for –  so that when we look back on life, we see that what mattered most received the best of us.

This week I’m sharing with you the beautiful watches created by Jord. They are a collection of hand-crafted wood timepieces. Created with raw material and a refined design to fit a modern lifestyle. But beyond all that cool information, they are g-o-r-g-e-o-u-s!

You know I don’t do a whole lot of affiliate work or product reviews here in this space because it’s a precious space God has given me to share hope with you. So there has to be something extra special about a product for me to do so. And here’s where Jord got me:

TELLING MORE THAN TIME

The value of a watch is not in being able to tell how much time has passed, but in being aware of the need to make that time count. Moments are bigger than minutes and your watch should tell more than time.

How can a girl learning to be present in the moments that matter most not resonate with those words? Friends, kairos are bigger than chronos. Can I get an AMEN?

I don’t want to miss the moments to:

Bless others by listening well. When we really hear people we gain perspective through their eyes. We give them an opportunity to be seen and known.

Mark what won’t be mine to have forever. Our kids grow, seasons change, and the cycle of life completes. Our moments in the trenches are ones we never get back.

Notice love. Whether it’s with a spouse, family, or friends – the moments of love are often small. They are in the smile, the sparkle, a hug, or even the simplest of gestures.

No. I don’t want to miss them. Because they matter.

They keep our hope tank filled up on the drier days. They are the gifts given so lovingly by a God who longs for us to soak in His love and grace.

But here’s the deal. The enemy longs to distract us. His goal is chaos. He doesn’t want us to notice the moments nor the recognize them as gifts from God.

So friends, what can we do?

Here are some things I’ve been working on that help me keep noticing the moments that matter:

1. Breathe deeply. Notice when your body is tense. It is sending you alerts to the needed oxygen.
2. Take note of the thoughts running amuck. Call out the unnecessary ones as well as the unproductive ones. Intentionally put a halt to them by envisioning a stop sign in your mind.
3. Look up. Our phones and other digital media are stealing our moments far too often in today’s world!
4. Find 3 good or positive facts about any given situation. (This works wonders when your brain is on fire with negativity!)
5. Draw your mind back to the present. Focus on the moment and give it your best.
6. Smile. Or even better, laugh. Finding the humor in the moments releases tension and helps us focus on the good which usually ends up being the moment that matters.

What are some other tips or tricks you have in the battle of chronos versus kairos?

Have You Read Our Story of Hope?

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