Aproveite o Dia

Carolyn Arends: Seize The Day

I know a girl who was schooled in Manhattan
She reads dusty books and learns phrases in Latin
She is an author, or maybe a poet
A genius but it's just this world doesn't know it
She works on her novel most every day
If you laugh she will say


chorus:
Seize the day, seize whatever you can
'Cause life slips away just like hourglass sand
Seize the day, pray for grace from God's hand
Then nothing will stand in your way
Seize the day


Well I know a doctor, a fine young physician
Left his six-figure job for a mission position
He's healing the sick in an African clinic
He works in the dirt and writes home to the cynics
He says "We work through the night so most every day
As we watch the sun rise we can say

chorus

Well I know a man who's been doing some thinking
He's as bitter and cold as the whiskey he's drinking
He's talking 'bout fear, about chances not taken
If you listen to him you can hear his heart breaking
He says "One day you're a boy and the next day you're dead
I wish way back when someone had said

chorus

Well one thing I've noticed, wherever I wander
Everyone's got a dream he can follow or squander
You can do what you will with the days you are given
I'm trying to spend mine on the business of living
So I'm singing my songs off of any old stage
You can laugh if you want, I'll still say

chorus

As I was in Brasil, this song was on my mind. The concept was one we adopted and it helped the time to pass slowly. Normally it is over before it started, but this time the week seemed to last a month and it was wonderful. We sought to live each moment in and of itself. Even the day before I left we focused on that day and not "tomorrow I am leaving."

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6.33-34 NASB)

Each day has enough trouble of its own... well it also has enough value and joy of its own. We further expounded on "Aproveite o dia" with "hoje e hoje" or "today is today." The value of each day increased by cherishing it.

Now I am home, and this is more difficult to adhere to. I go to work and deal with things I really, really dislike (I am considering posting about some of these things) and I want to forget today and live for tomorrow. But today I need to focus on and get the most out of. Just like in Brazil.

I thank all of you who prayed for me and send emails or commented. It was all appreciated. Aproveite o dia- seize the day!