Theme of the month: LIVE HAPPY... TODAY

DAY 1: LIVE HAPPY...TODAY

By Benescke Janse van Rensburg

There are three types of people: a “yesterday person”, a “tomorrow person” and a “today person.”

A yesterday person is one who is locked up in the past. Such a person will always refer to how good things were in the past (even though it might be an illusion). Such people also struggle to forgive as they can not or will not set aside bad things done to them in the past in order to move forward to a better future. The danger of being a yesterday person, is that you may wake up one morning with the realization that your life had passed you by and you have missed precious time with your loved ones due to the bitterness and unforgiveness in your life.

A tomorrow person is one who is primarily focused on the future. Such a person struggles to be content with who he or she is and what they have. They constantly strive for more and better with the false believe that more success equals more happiness. Don’t get me wrong, it is good to set goals and follow your dreams, but when it affects your relationships with your loved ones in a negative way, you are on the wrong path. The danger of being a future person, is that you may wake up one morning with a study full of trophies and award certificates, but no one to share it with. Your life would have raced past you, but you never seized the special moments on the way to share with your loved ones.

This brings me to today people. These people are aware of their disappointments and mistakes in the past, but they do not allow it to hold them captive. Today people also set clear goals for the future, but they do not allow it to suck them in so that they miss opportunities in the present to make a difference in another person’s life. Today people are aware of the sad colleague in their office, the beggar on the street corner, the policeman who has delivered good service, the elderly person who needs assistance to cross the busy street or the child who longs for a hug – and they choose to give the compliment or become the person to fulfill that need. Today people choose to live happy today because they realize that once today is over, they will never get it back.

In Philippians 3:13-15 Paul writes: “... one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Let us learn from the past and plan for the future, but choose to live happily today while we keep our eyes open to not miss opportunities to make another person’s life better by being there to meet their needs. God bless.

Father God, thank you for granting me another day to enjoy. Help me to not miss an opportunity to demonstrate your love to those around me. I ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

** Benescke Janse van Rensburg is a freelance journalist and author of the books, Ontdek God in die stories van mense, Wysheid-oordenkings uit Spreuke and Hoop in tye van nood-oordenkings uit Psalms.