Hello, God. It's me, Mara.

You now, Lord, each day that You give us is a “room of time.” We can use that time or we can abuse it, we can spend it or waste it, we can fill our time with recollections of past failures and moan all the “what ifs,” “if only,” “woe is me.”  We can have our own pity party with just us as the honored guest, for who, pray tell, would want to come to such a party!

Or, woo-hoo, we can fill our “room of time” with peace and happiness, joy and satisfaction. We can be about as glad or as sad as we choose to be, as this little verse states: “Life can’t give me joy and peace; it’s up to me to will it. Life just gives me time and space; it’s up to me to fill it.”

Lord, help us to wisely invest the time that You have graciously given to us. There are dozens of wonderful things to do with time. We can glory in it, like a delighted child with a bowl of soapy water blowing rainbow bubbles in the sunshine, or like the little chap who got a small pedal car! Oh, how delightful to see the joy of innocence on those two special little children.

We can take time to smell the roses, give a compliment, write a letter, buy a gift, bake some cookies to share. We can go to the effort — improve our work habits — go the second mile — make an apology — seize the opportunity — give a compliment — telephone that lonely friend — render joy and gladness.

We all know that neglect and inattention only bring regrets. We read in Hebrews 3:13: “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today.” Thank You, Lord, for Your encouragement.

Love, Mara.