It's really easy to get overwhelmed by life. The tragedies in world news and the problems in American politics are troubling enough. Then add in the burdens and complexities each of us personally carries in our own lives. We worry about our families, our health, our homes, our financial futures, our friends. What will happen to us? It's often difficult and confusing to figure out what to think, say, and do.
It's prudent to plan and prepare for the future, whether that's tomorrow or a decade from now or eternity. Yet we can only live right here and now, one day at a time, even one hour or moment at a time.
My future can seem so uncertain. There are so many variables beyond my control. Yet each day I'm expected to get up and do what needs to be done. I'm not always super good at that either; it seems like I am always moving things forward a day or a week on my iPod To Do List because I didn't get everything done. Today is still what I've got to work with. One today after another, but one at a time. I need to be careful not to fritter away the little minutes. They all add up!
A friend asked recently, "How do you handle everything going on in your life?"
"One day at a time, sweet Jesus!" My reply came from a song we used to enjoy together, 30 years ago when we worked in the same office.
Here are the lyrics for the chorus:
One
day at a time, sweet Jesus
That's all I'm asking from You
Just give me the strength
That's all I'm asking from You
Just give me the strength
to do everyday
What I have to do
What I have to do
Yesterday's
gone sweet Jesus
And tomorrow may never be mine.
Lord help me today,
And tomorrow may never be mine.
Lord help me today,
show me the way
One day at a time.
One day at a time.
One day at a time. It's how I move forward in life. It's how this mom grows up.
~*~*~*~
I think each day should be a balance between tasks that are bare bones practical and those that are more imaginative and inspiring.
As I've written before, one of my creative goals this year was to learn how to do chalkboard art. You can see my first attempts at Chalkboard
Art for Creative Communication and Blessed Are the Peacemakers.
I had mentioned in those posts that I wanted brighter colors and that I was also thinking of buying wood cutouts and spraying them with chalkboard paint. On Saturday I had some really good coupons for Michaels, a craft store.
I found a set of soft pastels in the art department. They aren't designed for chalkboards, but they work well and aren't hard to clean off. This gives me a substantial range of bright colors!
I also tried spray painting some wood cutouts. I put on a few coats of paint, but the wood grain is still very evident on this largest board. I may have to sand the boards down and spray again to get more of a smooth finish. .JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*)
I'll redo this sign, but for now it's hanging in my dining room. I think it goes well with the theme of this post.In addition to buying materials for making my own chalkboards, I also purchased a large square chalkboard with a vintage distressed off white frame. The black area is about 18" by 18", and I marked white guidelines for my lettering that I erased later. This board surface is actually a little too slick for my tastes, and it was a challenge to lay thicker layers of color on it. I made the mistake of blowing on my design, and it scattered all over the place. I cleaned up the smudgy areas with a damp paper towel.
I put this piece on a tall cabinet in my front hallway, along with some coordinating ceramic birds also from Michaels. That's the start of my spring decorating! (Confession: Just last week I finally put away the Christmas angel and village that had been in that same spot for three months...)
This post is part of my Move Forward series. The other posts are:
Grace and peace
(One day at a time)...
Virginia Knowles
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:33-34
Amen! One day at a time all the while trusting in Jesus.
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