What kind of day will it be?

I am convinced that there are 2 types of days that I can have:

1) Focused and checking off that to do list, don’t-get-in-my-way-day:
All too often I have those days where I go at break neck speed trying to be the best- wife, doctor, friend, etc. At the end of the day I just end up frustrated and feeling inadequate and unfulfilled. I go to sleep thinking...what could I have done better, how could I have been more efficient. The sad thing is that on those days I rushed through conversations with friends and interactions with patients half-heartedly since my mind is really on the next thing on my to do list.

2) The focused on God and ready for anything-that-comes-my-way day--
Then occasionally I will have periods in my life where I wake up in the zone, just completely focused on God and curious where he will led me that day. It is strange how these times in my life correlate very closely with the times that I am most faithful to meet with God in the morning and spend time in prayer (please note the sarcasm here!). It is also interesting that during those periods I am more intent on listening to Michael and more faithful to pray for him. During those periods I also tend to pray for people as I meet them and see their need during the day. And I am more in tune to jump in and help meet a need that I am equipped to meet, even if it isn’t on my official to do list. I end the day completely fulfilled with my “cup running over”--completely blessed by those around me, truly content and at peace.

As evidenced by the past 7 weeks of maternity leave--life goes so fast. Each day is truly so precious. Why do I settle so many days for option #1?? Yesterday evening I rocked Cole to sleep at sundown on the front porch. The wind was blowing and the air was the perfect temperature. And of course Cole looked angelic there in the afternoon light. I posted on my facebook status---”Sitting on the front porch with Cole. How come I let myself get distracted and forget that this is what it is all about?” My friend Denise agreed that “Life is demanding like that...we all forget!” My high school friend Jamie mother of 2 said, “I’m just starting to learn that. Everything else will definitely wait, but the kids grow up whether we take time to notice or not.” And then a dear friend of Michael and I--Elizabeth wrote, “ You have no idea how quickly it goes by until it’s too late!”

Dear God, please help me heed the warnings of my dear friends. Please help me to stay focused on you, even when I go back to work, so that I can be the wife, mother, and doctor that you have called me to be. Otherwise, in a few years I will wake up with a marriage untended to, a job done half-hearted, and child that is grown up and a to do list that is still not completely checked off. I am asking for your help to learn this now and take it to heart before I get one day older.