Time Keeps on Slippin' (Friday Devotional)

 

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.

- Ecclesiastes 3:1

For teachers, staff, parents, and students, this has been back-to-school week around much of the state. From wide-eyed kindergartners to seen-it-all seniors, from rookie teachers to the veterans nearing retirement, everyone has been abuzz with energy and excitement, sad to see summer break end but eager to learn what awaits in the new school year.

For adults who do not live and die by the school calendar, there is some nostalgia for its rhythms. We remember Friday night football games and winter formals and spring recitals. We miss the time when the ringing of a bell told us it was time to move on to something new. We long for the days when recess—a time to get outside and just play—was a mandatory part of our schedules.

While most adults’ calendars are no longer governed by the ringing of the school bell, that doesn’t mean your time is entirely your own. Most jobs have busy seasons and slow seasons. Most families have traditions that are pinned to certain dates.

So for the wise person, making the most of your time means knowing what season you’re about to be in. It means knowing when you’re going to be busy and understanding that you will require extra patience during that period. It means knowing when you’ll have some time on your hands and making yourself more available to others during that time. It means always being ready to help.

Seasons come and seasons go, but the clock is always ticking. Do you know what time it is?