“Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”1 

There was a rich industrialist who was disturbed to find a fisherman sitting lazily behind his boat. 

"Why aren't you out there fishing?" he asked 

"Because I've caught enough fish for today," said the fisherman. 

"Why don't you catch more fish than you need?" the rich man asked. 

"What would I do with them?" Asked the fisherman.  

"You could earn more money," came the impatient reply, "and buy a better boat so you could go deeper and catch more fish. You could purchase nylon nets, catch even more fish, and make more money. Soon you'd have a fleet of boats and be rich like me." 

The fisherman asked, "Then what would I do?" 

"You could sit down and enjoy life," said the industrialist. 

"What do you think I'm doing now?" the fisherman replied.2 

Many times, I have allowed myself to get too busy. My to-do list seems never-ending, and I find myself missing out on the fun of life because I am focused on doing the next thing. God created a beautiful world. Even he, after working hard for six days, saw that his work was good. So, he rested and enjoyed the moment. What I fail to remember sometimes is that tomorrow is not guaranteed. I could make all the plans I want and work endlessly to do what I think I need to do, but right now is the only guaranteed time I have. Work is an important part of life, and we should work diligently in all we do; however, we must also remember that balance is also important. Those around us may not remember all the work we did or the deadlines we met, but they will remember the moments we spent talking, playing, and simply enjoying life together. Let us all take a moment in each day to enjoy God’s marvelous creation with our loved ones. 

Suggested prayer: Dear God, thank you for all the beautiful things you created for me to enjoy. Thank you, also, for the work you have given me to do. I pray that you would help me find a healthy balance and remember to live in the present and enjoy the moments you give me. Then, when you call me home, I won’t only be remembered as a hard worker, but also as someone who invested in relationships with those around me. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. In Jesus’ name, amen.