One piece of advice I have heard from doctors, nurses, and even patients who have been through cancer is: “just focus on today”.
Looking at the amount of appointments, treatments, medications, and all the things that could possibly go wrong in-between, can tend to be overwhelming. Focusing only on “today” helps to block out unnecessary worry.
However, I can’t help those days that I stop and look back, remembering what it was like before we heard the word “cancer” in our family. Long summer days by the pool, or a family picnic at a park. Long weekends camping, or trips to visit out-of-state family. Days when I worried about what was for dinner more than I worried if my husband was going to feel sick that night.
Then there are the times I look ahead and wonder how will I ever be able to go back to normal life when we are through with this journey? Or, depending on the day, having so much hope for a cancer free tomorrow, that I become impatient today.
As a Christian, how do I balance my focus?
“Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.” – Matthew 6:34a
TODAY – If you are focusing on today, you can’t worry about tomorrow. If you find yourself in an endless cycle of worry, it’s time to narrow your focus to today. What do you need to accomplish today? What has been a blessing today? How can you be a blessing to someone else today?
“…forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before…” – Philippians 3:13
TOMORROW – When you find yourself not able to move beyond what your life used to be, and how it may never be the same again, it’s time to leave that pity party. Change your focus by reaching for a goal. Look at the hope that is waiting at the end of your journey. That mountain top of victory!
“Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me.” – Isaiah 46:9
YESTERDAY – On days when the future seems bleak, and today is too dark to see any ray of sunshine, then look back at all God has done for you. List each way He has ever blessed you. I guarantee you the list will grow until you have something to smile about.
If you focus too much on today, you can easily lose sight of yesterday’s blessings. If you spend too much time living in yesterday, you miss out on tomorrows joy. If you dwell on the “what-ifs” of tomorrow, you miss out on today’s opportunities.
“A false balance is abomination to the Lord : but a just weight is his delight.” – Proverbs 11:1
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