Savoring the moments….

        I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the word savor. I certainly have done much savoring of wonderful meals over the holidays as my current weight reveals! I looked up the meaning of the word and here’s what I found.

SAVOR means “to enjoy or appreciate ( something pleasant) completely, especially by dwelling on it.
I wanted to savor every moment.....to enjoy food or an experience slowly, in order to enjoy it as much as possible”

To savor something, whether it is food or an experience, carries the connotation of doing it slowly, wanting to make it last.

        When I think about my life last over the last year - except for the birth of our granddaughter, vacation and the holidays, and some very special times with friends, if I’m honest, it seemed more like I was just trying to survive many of the days rather than savoring them. True, it was a year of exceptional challenges and loss, I think. Or is it the exception? Once again, in the last month, I have attended 4 funerals and just yesterday got the news that my friend Tracey went home to be with Jesus after a long battle with ALS. I first met her as the amazing, creative mom of one of my youngest daughters’ school friends.I remember going to her house for the first time for a class party and she had set up tents in the yard with butterfly’s in them! Oh my, this woman knew how to embrace and share the wonder of her Creator! Our relationship grew as she went on to speak into my life many spiritual truths and modeled the selfless life of wife and mother, generously sharing her heart, creativity and love for her Lord. We shared the love of words and the beach. 
We never know what the next day will bring, do we? 

       
      And so I’m asking the question, “What would it truly mean to savor the moments of my days?” To drink in the blessings of each day, to take it all in with intentional purpose, to slow it down enough to really savor the moments...unwrap the gift of the present, so that when the end of my days comes I don’t have regret at the moments, the people, the experiences I have missed because I was rushing through, just surviving the days instead of savoring them. 

And more importantly, I want to be found faithful savoring my relationship with Jesus.



Psalm 34: 8-10
Taste and see that the Lord is good;
    blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

 Fear the Lord, you his holy people,
    for those who fear him lack nothing.

The lions may grow weak and hungry,
    but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

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 We are offered an invitation in Isaiah 55:1,2

             “Come, all you who are thirsty,
    come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
    come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
    without money and without cost.

Why spend money on what is not bread,
    and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
    and you will delight in the richest of fare.




And so I just began to make a list of all that came to my mind when I think of what it means to
 savor the moments of my days……..

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to savor…

….the Savior -It must all begin with Him, for without intimacy in relationship with Jesus, we do not even know how to live  the days we have been given.
....the Word - there is  banqueting table found in God’s character to be savored when we hunger and thirst for His Word. Here is where I come to see Him, to know Him.  Soak in it, meditate on it, delight in it.
....my marriage - to cherish it, invest in it, delight in it, never take for granted the years we've had together, make special  memories, light the candles and fix a romantic dinner (what are we saving them for?)
….my family  - My great delight and love in life, they are my greatest, most faithful supporters, soak in the moments we    have together.
….friendships - Truly couldn't have made it through this last year without the faithful love, support and wisdom from       treasured friends, make time...
 ...the music - It stirs my soul…always has… God wired me that way!
….the time I'm given each day - It flies by and the years and the children are gone. Make the moments count.
... the joy, laughter, the hugs - Life's really hard without these.
….my home - What a blessing! Keep it. Be creative. Make it an oasis where we want to be.
….quiet - My spirit is renewed in the stillness. God has wired me to be still and listen to His voice. I get lost when I don't   give myself the gift of quiet.
....the trials - In them I've learned the depth of His love and grace.
....my students- Cherish the privilege of investing in their musical talents and gifts for the future. 
….the sunshine, God's beauty in creation - I take it for granted too much and then the dreary cold days remind me…    soak in those rays of sunshine when they come, look up at God's canvas in the heavens, smell the flowers
.....rest - God commanded it. I think He knows I need it! When I don't rest, I get really grumpy! Sometimes we let the "to do" list take over and forget that He has given us permission to rest.
….work - God has designed me with certain gifts that I bring that no one else does in exactly the same way. I want         to savor the opportunity to fulfill my purpose in the world. Be grateful for the provision of work!
….feasting - This one is not hard. I really love good food!
....the ministry - What a privilege that the Lord would choose to partner with us to bring about His kingdom purposes       and help to meet the needs of others. He will provide all that I need.
….my dreams - He has placed them there to spur me on beyond the ordinary into the extraordinary life He has planned.
.....the mentoring -  My life has been forever changed by those who have sacrificed to mentor me in the faith. Savor the people and places where I can give back.
….the pictures - They help me remember those savored moments
….my health - Hmm… I really do need to get serious here and take better care of God's temple.
….a good read - Make time for the cultivating of my mind.

I want to live with passion, 
     to collect the moments - not things. 


I want to live a life of gratitude for the amazing blessings the Lord pours into each day He gives me. 
They truly are sacred moments.

 I wonder.......
              what your list would look like?

I think at least for my life, there are some practical things that I can do to help savoring the moments of my days become a reality. 

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Here are some that came to mind: 

•  Turn off the phone alerts - enter in and engage in the moments, the conversations, let go of the distractions when and where I can.
• Guard the time - what does that look like for me, for you? Watch those TV hours, computer hours, Facebook…. make the days count for something worthwhile.
• Work out a plan- write it down.
  
• Leave space in the plan for the unexpected, for that which is most needed (Mary chose the better path to sit at the feet of Jesus) If I'm listening to His voice, He will guide my days.
• Be sure to do some things each week that I love to do, that bring me joy and use my gifts.
  
• Clear out - simplify the stuff that clutters my space and my thoughts.
  
• Quit procrastinating the things that have to be done. Just do it so I can move on to the things that bring greater joy. 
  
• Be Creative. Have fun!
• Write that note. Make that phone call. Make that visit. Just do it!
  
•  Live it all out with a heart of gratitude! Write down the gifts I’m grateful for each day. 

Father,
Open my eyes to see evidences of Your glory in the moments of my days.
Teach me how to live abundantly in the moments, relationships and days I’ve been given.
Help me to savor You, Jesus, above all. To see and seek to know You as You truly are.
 May I find my utmost delight in You. May I find my wholeness and completeness in you. 
Oh Lord, show me what it truly means to taste and see… 
and savor your goodness.

By the power of your Holy Name, Jesus
Amen

         And so, Lord willing, during the next year I’ll be exploring and seeking to understand more about savoring the moments of my days as found in the list above and beyond I’m sure.  Perhaps I’ll write about the things I’m learning. It probably won’t be in the order of the list above, but I’m asking and trusting that He will reveal it to us as we journey together. Years ago some very dear friends and I found ourselves discussing this topic year after year on our beach trips. Those were sweet, fun times where we savored our lifelong friendships and the gifts we shared. We even talked about writing a book together. Maybe this will help us all get started. 

 What will the story of our lives tell?
            Did we learn to savor the moments?                                                                                                          Will we choose to unwrap the gifts found in each moment the Lord gives us?

     
It’s a chilly morning. 
I got up early and prayed awhile and spent some time in God’s love letter to me, His Word. I lit the fire in the fireplace, fixed a cup of coffee and lit my candle, turned on the fountain and put on my new furry slippers Ken gave me for Christmas! The fire is crackling and the candle my student gave me has filled the room with a wonderful scent. I’ve savored this moment, at least, of writing the thoughts the Lord has given me to share with you. 

 And now I must begin to tackle the “to do” list for today. 

 Lord, please give me grace to savor those moments as well.


Grateful for another day,
Kathy

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Resources - oxforddictionaries.com, Scripture images from Pinterest

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