What an amazing goal: To use wisely all the time we have. I think we all want that. So how do we go about doing that?

One of the things I try to do is consider my values when saying “yes” or “no” to something. Here are some of my top values that I try to use when deciding whether to say yes or no to something.

1. Family: one of my highest values is my family. One of the tests for what I say yes to, is, will it take time away from something I want to do with my family? If the answer is yes, I pass. If the answer is no, I go to the next value.
2. Long term goals: another value of mine is what I hope to accomplish in my life. What kind of person I want to be. What my strengths are. What I enjoy doing. The clearer I am when answering these questions, the eaiser it is to identify what I want to be involved in. Even so, there are times I say yes and then regret it because of one more value I tend to forget.
3. I am not the answer to anything: Sometimes I forget that I am just one piece to a much larger puzzle. If I come into an invitation thinking that if I don’t do it no one else will, I set myself up for disappointment and I risk commiting to something I didn’t have to do. The truth is, we often get to be part of a bigger picture. If we choose to step into it, seeing it as a privilege rather than the idea that we are the savior, is a much healthier approach and saves us and others from a lot of grief. It also frees us to make a much more sound decision.

Psalm 90:12 is a prayer I pray often. I am aware that I have less time in front of me than I have behind, so although I’ve prayed it for over 30 years, it is only becoming more and more relevant as time goes by. Wherever you are in your journey, every day is a gift from God. I hope you get to enjoy it, too.