Have you considered this moment?

Before making a decision or reaching a conclusion, there is often much to think about. Good timing works best when motivated through the joy of learning. To give this thought a kick-start, I’d like to share a story that I once heard in reference to an annual lumberjack competition. The competition took place between an older experienced lumberjack and a strong fellow about twenty years his junior. The rules of the competition were simple, the two lumberjacks would be sent into the woods and the one who could cut the most trees down in eight hours would be the winner.

The younger lumberjack was full of enthusiasm and went off into the woods and started cutting trees immediately. He worked all through the day, barely taking time to catch his breath or to grab some food and water. He felt confident because he could hear noise from the older fellow occasionally stop. The younger lumberjack naturally assumed the older guy was taking breaks because of his age and lesser strength. He was confident his youth and stamina would win him the competition. When the final whistle blew, the younger lumberjack felt confident he had won as he looked out over the piles of trees he had cut. He made his way over to the podium for the medal ceremony and climbed to the platform confident of his victory. The older fellow was there, actually looking much less tired than he did. When it was time to announce the winner, the younger lumberjack was waiting to hear his name, but was devastated when the older man was declared the winner. The younger man turned to the winner and asked, “How can this be? I heard you taking breaks every hour while I worked continuously. I am younger, fitter, and stronger than you. How could you possibly have beat me?” The older man smiled and said, “Son, I was not stopping to rest. I was stopping to sharpen my saw.”

The moral of the story, is to never neglect the time and effort necessary for due diligence before action. Prayer, study, research, preparation, are all imperitive steps before rushing into something just because it feels good. Whether it’s in our relationships, personally, or professionally, to act without consideration could be all it takes, to lose it all. A woodsman once said, “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” One in the same, some things do need our immediate action, but when we have a foundation of knowledge to act on, it is as if our axe has already been sharpened and is waiting to be used. The future is in front of us, however, it’s not only being supported by what’s under it, but also by what is behind it.

Life is a process, nonetheless, the present moment is so very important. It’s a good time to recognize that how we choose to live will affect those here with us, as well as the generations to come. Praise be to God, who loves us so much that He takes the time to help us and to be with us. Praise be to God whose hand is held out to care for us, protect us, teach and guide us, even when we are too busy to notice…

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” [Colossians 3:17]

As Learning is also a process, let’s consider the moment. May we give all the glory, honor and praise to God. For it is by His grace, that we can embrace and enjoy more of this life that He has given to us, and that’s through the good times, difficult, and the ones that seem very ordinary.

A teacher is not so much responsible for what our students know, but more so for the seeds we plant to help them grow.

Father in the Name of Jesus, by the power and grace of the Holy Spirit, be with us, direct our path, fill us with the riches of Your grace, transform our mind with a healthy balance that is good for our body and soul. Guide us with Your gracious love, that we may press forward to being all that You created us to be. In Your Holy Name we pray… Amen

Sweet blessings always,

Deanna Danielle

Deannadanielle.com