Ann-Marie Murrell: “The Future Is A Phantom”
My (biological) father was a very ambitious man. He was a teacher, a talented singer, a choir director, and later preached in a Methodist church. In his spare time he was also an award-winning actor in local community theater. He had so many plans for his future, but as a young husband and father of two toddlers I’m sure he also had a long list of concerns and struggles.
I’ve often wondered about how much time my father may have spent worrying about things and I can only hope and pray he didn’t–because at age 33, he died in a freak car crash and that was that. No more dreams, no more plans, no more worries.
Throughout my life, whenever I’ve been burdened by my own problems, I think of my father’s short time on earth and I say a prayer to just LET IT GO. None of us are promised one more moment on this earth so we’ve got to make the most of all we’ve got right now. Right now. Not tomorrow. Now.
Of course sometimes “letting it go” is easier to say than do…
Since last February I’ve been the full-time caregiver for my mother and step-father so “The Future” could easily become a scary thing for me. I never know from one day to the next what’s going to happen or what challenges will arise, and I’m often unsure whether or not I’ll be up to the challenge at all. Some days I’m petrified to even answer my cell phone, because these days a phone call from my parents can range between terrifying and/or hilarious. Sometimes I’m strong enough to handle anything and everything, other times not much of anything.
There are also other aspects of “The Future” that are creeping into my life–things that are starting to frighten me because I have no way control over any of it but will have to face very soon. As a recovering control freak, leaving everything to God is something I’m still learning how to maneuver…
And yet as always, God stepped in to give me a reminder of the lessons He taught me many years ago when my father died.
The following is from the ‘Jesus Calling’ devotional and it really pushes this point to the brink:
“The future is a phantom, seeking to spook you. Laugh at the future! Stay close to Me.”
So I hope this helps some of you out there who are worried right now about “tomorrow”. Right now is all that matters–Jesus really does have everything else. He won’t let us down.
Right now, I’m going outside to look at the trees and the sky, and to say thank you to God for all He’s given me, and I’ll say an extra big THANK YOU for the blessing I’ve been given to take care of my beautiful family here in Texas.
