Do What You Can, Not What You Dream

Sometimes I dream big.  I get distracted by things that may or may not happen in the future and neglect what I should be doing now.

It is good to be prepared, but it is better to be wise.

Goals are beneficial.  Planning is wise.  But we should be careful.  As we prepare, plan, and even dream for the future, we must take care to be responsible for the now.

As a wife and mom, I don't want to neglect my own family and our needs because I'm planning for something that may or may not happen in the future.

Recently, I had the opportunity to hear Dr. Woodrow Kroll talk when my family and I were at family camp.  He said to the group, "Do what you can, not what you dream."  (I may have paraphrased.  I was not taking notes.)  He really got me thinking about how I spend my time.

Despite my hopes for the future, I know I need to work and play hard now.  I may also work hard now for the future, but I must not neglect my current duties and family.

I must complete the task at hand...even if I am dreaming of the future.

Throughout the Bible, many verses speak of planning for the future.  It is certainly praised.
"For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?"~ Luke 14:28
We must also work in the here and now.  Our work now often helps us in the future.  The batch of strawberry jam I put in the freezer?  The four quarts of green beans I blanched and froze?  Working now and working hard is beneficial.
"Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.  Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest." ~ Proverbs 6:6-8 
As those verses shows, by working hard now, we are actually planning for the future.

In my own life, I need to be careful to complete one project, as much as I can, before jumping from one project to another.

How about you?  Do you balance working for now and working for the future?  Do you agree with my thoughts or do you think it's more important to plan?

~ Annette
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3 comments

  1. I love your focus on balance here. We could all use more balance in our lives.

    I know it can be hard for me to live to the fullest in my now when my head and heart are stuck in the dream of "maybe tomorrow..." and that isn't good. Thanks for this reminder.

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  2. I agree with you! Balance is so important...and if you saw my home you'd see it. I try to do balance and symmetry in my living room arrangement (and other rooms as well) because it seems like when you step out the door, everything can be hectic and total chaos...plus being a libra...I always need a ying and a yang in my life!

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  3. I think there is a balance. We can't let future dreams interfere with today's duties, but it's nice to have some dreams on the horizon. OTOH, even those dreams need to be surrendered to the Lord. There are things I thought I'd be able to get to when my kids were grown, but now we have my m-i-l with us. But that's God's will for us for this time, so I keep having to give those dreams and desires to Him and ask Him to work them out in His own way if they're His will.

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