I wish it was Friday.

I can’t wait for the weekend.

This week is dragging.

How often do you have thoughts like these during the week?

The promise of exciting things ahead- holidays, family celebrations, music concerts- can really help in propelling us through a difficult week, month or season. Like little rays of sunshine at the end of a tunnel, they can spur us on and give us a reason to remain motivated.

However, whilst it’s great to look forward to things, we should be very careful about wishing time away.

Consider the words of singer, songwriter Jon Foreman:

‘Every breath is a second chance.’

I have listened to this song several times before but it was only recently that I actually stopped to think about the meaning of this particular line.

Second Chances.

Not everyone is afforded the luxury of a second chance. They are usually hard to come by. They are often undeserved and they are most definitely not to be wasted or taken for granted. If then, like the song says, every breath is a second chance, we should try our best to embrace everything we do. We should make a conscious effort not to wish away precious, potential-filled moments and to be thankful for every day- not just Fridays.

The truth is, time does not need a helping hand in being urged forward. It moves incredibly quickly on its own and it stops for no one.

Last year Jemina spent a week at a language summer school to practice her Russian skills. When she came back she told us about one particular individual who had enrolled on the course. He was an elderly man in his eighties! Not only did this make me smile but it reminded me that for as long as we are here on Earth, we have a chance to make right our wrongs, be bold and adventurous and pursue our dreams. So long as we have breath in our lungs, we have reason to make changes and to learn from mistakes.

 ‘[concern yourself] with the Present because there, and there alone, all duty, all grace, all knowledge, and all pleasure dwell…’

C S Lewis

When we are so eager to rush forward, we sometimes forget the beauty and the gift of the present. We can forget to enjoy the ‘right now’ and all of the beauty that is found right there.

Every single breath is a second chance so don’t race ahead and take time for granted. The next breath, let alone the next day is not guaranteed so try and savour each moment- even the midweek ones which can sometimes feel a bit ‘meh’.  Don’t wait for Friday before being truly thankful to God.

Leona x