The Gift of the Present and Why It Matters

There’s a sacred beauty in being fully present in the moment, something we often overlook as life rushes past us. It’s so easy to get distracted, to let the days slip by without truly engaging with what’s happening right in front of us. We get caught up in the past, replaying conversations we can’t change or wishing we’d done things differently. We worry about the future, consumed by thoughts of what might happen or what we feel we need to prepare for. But what if we stopped for a moment and asked ourselves: What if the gift of life is right here, right now?

I’ve spent a lot of time observing, watching life unfold around me. I sit in coffee shops, just soaking in the quiet hum of the world moving on—people coming and going, conversations happening, and the stillness that often goes unnoticed. I notice how people’s faces light up when they talk about what they love, or how their bodies carry the weight of their burdens. I’ve learned to ask questions, not just the surface-level ones, but the deeper ones—What’s their story? What brings them joy? What breaks their heart? It’s through these simple moments of connection and observation that I’ve realized just how important it is to be present.

Being present isn’t something that happens by accident. It’s a choice. A decision to let go of the past and stop worrying about the future. It’s a decision to show up fully in the moment we’re living, to engage with what’s happening right now. For too long, I lived in the past… replaying old conversations, wishing I had said something differently or made a different choice. And when I wasn’t stuck in the past, I was consumed with what could happen in the future: the hard conversations I needed to have, the things I needed to plan for, or the decisions I was afraid to make.

But life doesn’t exist in the past or in the future. It’s happening right now.

The more I practice presence, the more I see how much beauty I’ve been missing. I’ve learned that when I choose to be present, I not only experience life more deeply, but I also allow myself to experience God more fully. God is not waiting for us in some distant future or in our past mistakes—He’s here, in the now. And when we choose to engage with the present, we open ourselves to the richness of His presence, His peace, and His grace.

Here are three things I’m working on to stay more present in my life:

1. Letting go of the past: I’m learning to stop replaying moments that can’t be changed. There is peace in releasing the past, in forgiving myself and others, and in embracing the present.

2. Choosing to be intentional: I want to show up fully for the people and moments around me. Whether it’s a simple conversation or a quiet moment of reflection, I’m choosing to be mindful and present in each interaction.

3. Trusting God with tomorrow: The future is out of my control, and worrying about it only steals the peace of today. I’m learning to trust God with what’s to come, knowing He is leading me in this moment and the next. As Matthew 6:34 says, “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.”

So, where are you stuck? Are you living in the past, replaying memories you can’t change? Or maybe you’re consumed with what could happen in the future, worrying about things you can’t control? I get it. I’ve been there too, trapped in the cycle of what was and what might be. Oh, and let me assure you… the fear often tries to sneak back in.

But let me remind you why it matters to stay focused on the present. Because this is where life is happening. This is the moment God is leading you, calling you to pay attention. He’s right here, in the now. And the more we choose to be present, the more we open our hearts to the life He’s inviting us to experience, right now.

Love, Sarah xx.

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