It's all about today

I'm sure you have seen them.  Photos of families, portraits to remember the lives of the family.  There are some fascinating photos from decades past and many of them hanging in restaurants as decoration.

Who were these people?  Where did they live?  What did they do? What was their story?  All of those answers are lost in time.  Somewhere in years past a family member had to clear out a house of a parent and found these photos...photos of people they didn't know.  And so they were sold, they were forgotten, even their names lost.

We try so hard in our day to leave a legacy and yet none of us will leave more than what we do today.  In these moments of time as we encounter others, we leave behind us legacy moments.  No one but God and the person you touched will remember them, but they make a difference in eternity.

Here, in this place, we are so quickly forgotten, but today, in this moment of time, you and I get to encourage, smile, love, listen to, care about, hug and help others.  That will last and be remembered when the old photos turn to dust.

Because you see, it's all about today.  Today, this moment and the next one and the one after that is all we have and in those moments our lives touch others.  That's the only thing that matters.

I'm thinking about it because in the men's group I lead on Thursday morning we were talking about Peter as he wraps up his life and thoughts in 2 Peter 3.  He was aware that his life was over soon and these were his closing words.  

I asked the guys if they had only 6 months to live what would they say to family and friends, what would they do?  

One man replied, "What you have already done says it all. How you have lived up to this 6 month deadline is more important than what you do in the 6 months left."  And he's right!  (Thanks Joe).

We are memorizing a verse in that group.  It's hard for us old men to memorize, so we have been working on it for about 2 months.  It sums up all of this...all the photos, all the memories, all the desire for significance and legacy....it covers all of it as Jesus tells his disciples,

"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."  Matthew 5:16

For you see....it's all about today.  Use it well!