I Wish I Had Appreciated the Time I Was Living In More

It took me a long time to learn how to appreciate the time you’re living in, before it quietly becomes something you can only look back on.

Looking back, I wish I was more appreciative of the time I was living in. I think I took it for granted.

Like when my cousin moved from Michigan — I hadn’t seen him in probably half my life. He was older than me. When I moved to Texas, he’d already moved there about a week before me. At the time, I was applying at a hotel, and he’d already been hired there.

Why Should You Appreciate the Time You’re Living In Right Now?

I’ve learned that time changes everything faster than you realize — people leave, people move, you lose touch, and suddenly that time is gone. Looking back, I wish I had appreciated the seasons I was living in more, instead of just living through them without thinking one day this would be different.

A few things I understand now that I didn’t then:

• At the time, you’re just living — you don’t think about how much things will change
• Seeing your children grow makes you understand how quickly life moves
• God has truly saved me through His mercy, grace, love, and forgiveness
• I’m extremely grateful for the family God has blessed me with, and I can’t imagine life without them

I Honestly Thought I Knew Him From School

I remember he called out to me, and honestly, I thought somehow I knew him from school. He laughed and reminded me that he was my cousin.

I didn’t have a car then, and he came every day, picked me up, and dropped me off. He made friends easily too. Since we worked together, while he was still living in Texas, I always hung out with him.

That was just my life at the time.

When He Left, Everything Changed

Then he left, and when he left, everything changed.

Almost everyone I knew either left too, or we just never got in touch again. So much has changed. Sometimes I get amazed at how quickly time changes everything.

I Think About Time Differently Now

I am at a point now where, since I have experienced so much change, sometimes I get this tightening in my chest when I look back and then look forward, especially when you see your children grow.

My goodness, time moves so fast.

And when I look at myself, I think, my goodness, how much I have changed.

God Has Truly Saved Me

If it wasn’t for the mercy, grace, love, and forgiveness of God, I would not be here.

When I look back at my life, I see how much has changed. Things that used to make me scared, things I thought were so significant, now I look back and some of those things almost seem silly.

And the only One who mattered and still matters is God.

I Think About My Family Too

If God hadn’t blessed me with a spouse like mine, I honestly don’t know where I would have ended up.

Sometimes I think about that and I get fear-struck. I cannot imagine living this life without my family and God.

There was a time when I didn’t have the life I have now. But since God had ordained it, it came to life in its own time, and I truly believe everything happens for a reason.

I Wish I Appreciated Certain Seasons More

That is what I think about when I look back.

I wish I had appreciated the time I was living in more—my cousin being there, him picking me up and dropping me off every day, working together, hanging out together.

At the time, you are just living. You don’t really think, one day this is going to be different.

Then life changes. People leave. People move. You lose touch. And suddenly that time is gone.

Time Changes Everything

So much has changed in my life, and sometimes I am just amazed at how quickly it happens.

That is why I think we need to be serious with our time, especially now as a parent.

When you see your child growing, you understand it differently. You look back, you look forward, and sometimes it really hits you how much has changed, how much you have changed, and how quickly life moves.

I Am Grateful for Where God Has Brought Me

When I look back, I know God has truly saved me through His mercy, His grace, His love, and His forgiveness.

And when I look at the family He has blessed me with, I am extremely grateful. I cannot imagine my life without my family and God.

Looking back, I just wish I understood earlier how quickly things change. I wish I appreciated the time I was living in while I was living it.

Because so much can change, and sometimes it changes before you even realize it.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 — “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven