August means back to school. In some ways, August brings fresh resolve to explore new opportunities and improve on the previous school year. Yes, even for homeschoolers. August is a new beginning, a time to learn new things while building on old lessons. All of it is part of preparing our children for the lives God has given them to live.
While some people say things like, “Live every day as though it’s your last,” or “Today is the first day of the rest of your life,” I see an equal benefit in experiencing life as though something in it might be new each day. Childlike excitement, anticipation, and joy can fill even ordinary moments. What if instead of positioning ourselves as experts, we looked for something new to learn every day?
Pay attention to the opportunities God places in your path. Tell people you love them. Be present for the life you are living. We cannot control when the last moments will be. We can still choose how faithfully we live the moments between the firsts and lasts.
Be courageous, yet gracious. Be selfless, yet strong. Treat people as though they matter—because they do. Include the person sitting alone. Listen when people tell their stories. One small act of kindness could change the world of one person. You don’t know what waves could be created by the ripples you start.
Live in such a way that your ordinary moments make an extraordinary life. We spend so much time remembering our firsts and anticipating—or fearing—our lasts, but most of life happens somewhere in between.
Make a good middle.
