The Wonder of Now

A Cup of Tea with Carol
Written By Carol McLeod

I have been known to be guilty of longingly believing, like Scarlett O’Hara, that tomorrow will be better.  I am often convictable of gazing yearningly into the glory of the future unknown and then mistakenly dream about fictional days that will most certainly be exponentially more wonderful than any real today could ever be.

I am sure that I will make more money next year …

I am certain that I will lose at least 30 pounds in some magical month in my perfect and self-disciplined future yet to be lived …

My marriage will be better tomorrow … my house will stay cleaner next week … I will solve all of my problems in 2015 … and I will get to live at the beach very, very soon.

"Do not boast about tomorrow for you do not know what a day may bring forth.” – Proverbs 27:1

But the simple truth is this … today is the very best day of my life.  There is no richer or fuller gift than the undeserved endowment of the present.  Today is the moment of miracles … the present holds the certainty of great wealth and the assuredness of an existence that is quite simply, too good to be true!

What is without fiction or exaggeration is that I am able to choose how much splendor I will wring out of today.  Will I slog through uncommon moments and look dull-eyed at all that I have been given?  Or will I embrace the ordinary miracles that rear their lovely heads in every waking moment?           

If my focus is fixed on the remote possibilities of tomorrow, I will never be captivated by the wonder of now!

" … And tomorrow will be like today, only more so …” – Isaiah 56:12b

If you are a mom, don’t wish your child’s life away by saying things like:

 “I can’t wait till my baby sleeps through the night … or is potty-trained … or learns to talk … or goes to pre-school.”

Indulge in the amazement of parenting that belongs to you today.  When you are up with a colicky baby, pray that this little heart will stay soft toward the Lord and that he or she will walk in their God-directed destiny in life!  Don’t waste time mourning over lost sleep but celebrate the quiet moments of prayer that are so vital to the person that this little life will become.

Treasure every season, every day and every unscripted opportunity to pour love, time and training into the child who will become the legacy that you leave behind.

"In the day of prosperity be happy, but in the day of adversity consider – God has made the one as well as the other so that man will not discover anything that will be after him.” – Ecclesiastes 7:14

It’s not only mothers who deal with the propensity of believing the fantasy that tomorrow holds the treasure that today lacks.  It’s all of us in every season of life who agree with the falsehood that Scarlet so aptly stated,  “Home … I’ll go home!  And I will think of a way to get Rhett back.  After all … tomorrow is another day!”

What Scarlett was ignoring, and what you and I ignore as well, is that the choices we make today determine the joy and love we will experience tomorrow.  The investment of whole-hearted engagement in the present will assuredly bring a wealth of resources tomorrow.  However, the focus must be on living well today.

"My mouth is filled with Your praise and with Your glory all day long!” – Psalm 71:8

Perhaps you would like to spend just a few minutes of today making some declarations with me that have the power to unlock the beauty and glory of all of the “now” moments of your life:

Today I will splendidly and extravagantly spend time listening to others and not merely thinking about me.

Today I will celebrate my current season of life and not foolishly long for different days, experiences and activities than the ones that have been delivered to my doorstep on this day.

Today I will not worry about what I do not have but will gratefully share all that I do have with the people I meet along the way.

Today I will use my fine china for no reason at all!

Today I will sing without regret and say “thank you!” loudly and often!

Today I will smile at children … give words of encouragement to strangers … and respond to the love I have been given.

Today I will wrap myself in the glory of creation … whether it is in the sparkling and quiet white of a winter afternoon or in the firefly and watermelon moments of summer.  I will deeply inhale the luscious days of new birth that only spring delivers and thoroughly appreciate the color and harvest of an autumn afternoon.  Whatever season I am in … that season will be my favorite!

Today I will be the very best “me” I can be and I will cease creating the fantasy “me” of the future.

I will make myself at home in the pleasure of today and find the fingerprint of God in every moment.  I will listen for His heartbeat and for the song of life that comes only from heaven.

I will tie myself to the present … and be captivated by the gift of today!

“And my tongue shall declare Your righteousness and Your praise all day long.” – Psalm 35:28

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Carol McLeod
Carol says, “I am just a girl who is head over heels in love with Jesus ... passionately addicted to His Word ... and find all of the joy that I need in time spent in His presence." Carol is a Christmas-aholic, loves ACC basketball and the beach! Like all menopausal women, she is overly fond of chocolate and enjoys a good read. She doesn't like cleaning her house and is an expert in carry-out dinners. She hates to shop … loves to jog … and somehow finds time in her busy life to hang out with small children. She is the kind of woman that you could laugh with over lunch, cry with over disappointment and shout with over a victory! But … if you need her official bio … read on! Carol is an author and popular speaker at women's conferences and retreats, where she teaches the Word of God with great joy and enthusiasm. She also hosts highly successful Just Joy! outreaches. Carol encourages and empowers women with passionate and practical biblical messages mixed with her own special brand of hope and humor. Carol has written three books, "Holy Estrogen!", "The Rooms of a Woman's Heart" and "Defiant Joy!" which was released by a subsidiary of Thomas Nelson. Her teaching DVD, "The Rooms of a Woman's Heart", won the Telly Award, a prestigious industry award, for excellence in religious programming. Carol has also been featured on YouVersion (the smart phone Bible app) with several devotionals, including: "For the Journey Set Before Him", "Jolt of Joy", and "Joy to YOUR world", " Carol has a daily radio program, "Defiant Joy! Radio" which is available in several national markets including Youngsville PA, Warren PA, Buffalo NY, Roanoke VA, Norfolk VA, and Nashville TN.  A 1977 graduate of Oral Roberts University with a degree in Music and English, Carol has the distinction of being both the first Women's Chaplain and the first woman to speak at the university's Vespers.  Carol currently serves on the ORU Alumni Board as chaplain.  She is married to her college sweetheart and love of her life, Craig, who serves as senior pastor of Life Church, a church near Buffalo, NY.  Craig and Carol have been happily married for nearly 37 years and are the parents of five children and three delightful daughters-in-law. Craig and Carol are thrilled with the joy of being grandparents to five precious grandchildren! Carol has written three books, "Holy Estrogen!", "The Rooms of a Woman's Heart" and "Defiant Joy!" which was released by a subsidiary of Thomas Nelson. Her teaching DVD, "The Rooms of a Woman's Heart", won the Telly Award, a prestigious industry award, for excellence in religious programming. Carol has also been featured on YouVersion (the smart phone Bible app) with several devotionals, including: "For the Journey Set Before Him", "Jolt of Joy", and "Joy to YOUR world", " Carol has a daily radio program, "Defiant Joy! Radio" which is available in several national markets including Youngsville PA, Warren PA, Buffalo NY, Roanoke VA, Norfolk VA, and Nashville TN.  A 1977 graduate of Oral Roberts University with a degree in Music and English, Carol has the distinction of being both the first Women's Chaplain and the first woman to speak at the university's Vespers.  Carol currently serves on the ORU Alumni Board as chaplain.  She is married to her college sweetheart and love of her life, Craig, who serves as senior pastor of Life Church, a church near Buffalo, NY.  Craig and Carol have been happily married for nearly 37 years and are the parents of five children and three delightful daughters-in-law. Craig and Carol are thrilled with the joy of being grandparents to five precious grandchildren!
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