Today’s Responsibilities
By Becky Roach
“You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.” – Abraham Lincoln
I once heard a sermon entitiled “The Future Is Now.” I remember the title because I found it so intriguing. I wish I had paid much more heed to the truth of that message! How wise was that preacher, and how wise Abraham Lincoln when he made the above statement.
If a businessman wants his business to be successful, he must do everyday the things that are necessary for it to prosper. Daily discipline is not an option. I, for one, have learned that lesson the hard way in some areas of life. It is so easy to put things off and think that we will do better tomorrow.
It is usually little things, or at least what seem to be little things, that cause the problem. Things such as “I know I should diet and exercise, and I’m going to, but one more day won’t hurt. I’ll begin tomorrow.” But the future is now and before we know it we are twenty pounds overweight and it is harder than ever to start dieting. We make our lives so much harder because we think we can wait until tomorrow.
If we want to save money for a rainy day, or for old age, or for our children’s college, we must begin now. We had better begin to save when we are quite young or it will likely never happen. We will get to be middle aged and suddenly realize that we have waited too long. Our children are ready for college and we don’t have the money and it is too late. Time and opportunities slip by so quickly. We must discipline ourselves to save, no matter how great the sacrifice, for it will be worth it. When “tomorrow” comes, we will be glad if we have lived responsibly each day.
If you want successful and fulfilling marriage and family relationships, again you must discipline yourself to fulfill daily responsibilities that will develop those relationships. Husbands or wives who spend all of their time at work or indulging in hobbies or other kinds of personal pursuits and neglecting each other and/or their children, will be disappointed, disillusioned, frustrated, and, perhaps, even despairing when they realize their marriage has failed and their children are grown and gone and they have completely missed the joy they wanted because they thought somehow they would “get around” to devoting time to their spouse and children but they never did and it is forever too late.
We have responsibilities (that are also privileges) that must be carried out every single day and to put them off until some tomorrow brings us great sorrow. However, when we discipline ourselves to perform these responsibilities diligently our days and our futures can be joyful and meaningful beyond our imaginations.
Success and happiness tomorrow are determined by what we think, say, and, most of all, do each and every day. The future is now.
