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REFLECTIONS
Rush! Rush! Rush!

Mildred Perryman

Psalm 46:10

We have all heard the cliché, “Take time to smell the roses.” The meaning of this statement was brought forcibly to my attention one day. The school district had emphasized keeping the students on task at all times. They had even eliminated morning recess. One afternoon, we were moving hastily from P.E. class to the classroom, when one of my first grade girls stopped and quickly picked a few wild flowers. I immediately told her we didn’t have time for this. As she handed them to me, she said. “Teacher, these are for you.” I melted on the inside.

What is the rush? Master musicians take years. Van Gogh didn’t have artistic expertise when he first picked up a paintbrush. Many things are proven worthy only with time. We must realize haste does make waste. Always feeling rushed can push us into being nervous, irritable and unstable. Life is too short to rush through it as if there would be no tomorrow.

Let’s all take time to smell the roses, and perhaps share them with someone else. Furthermore, as the hymn says, “take time to be holy.”

Reflections is a column of brief reflections on Scripture passages. This one is by Mildred Perryman from Graham, Tex. Freelance submissions (200-250 words in length) are welcome.

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Last modified September 27, 1999.

© 1999 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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