If anyone knows me, they know that I tend to push my time limits to the extreme before I finally come through. It's become a joke with those who invite my wife and me to dinner, as they understand that we will be "fashionably" late.
Now, I've realized that although it may be OK to do this with some aspects of our lives, we must figure out a way to be punctual whenever possible. The devil loves procrastinators as that time delayed is time for him to create havoc or undo the good you intended on doing.
A few weeks ago, one of my best friends, who happened to be an atheist, was dying and I knew it.
We agreed on nearly everything but God. I was talking to the doctor a few weeks before she died, and he told me that her situation was serious and any healing would be a miracle. I asked my friend if I could bring my preacher to talk to her, and she told me, yes. So, I called my preacher and he told me to pick a day, "Tuesday or Thursday," and I picked Thursday. I had big plans and I'm convinced that we could have changed her mind regarding God.
The problem is, my friend died on Tuesday night. Now, I've got to live with this the rest of my life because I feel like it was my responsibility to do this. I had a chance to make a difference with someone I loved and I didn't.
I sit here and tell you what I was going to do, and I had the opportunity to do, but I did not. I pray every night that my friend had God with her when she passed away, and she's looking down now laughing at me.
Do what you have to do today, because tomorrow is not promised. Tell her you love her. Hug your dad. Take today off work and spend it with your family.
Rick Stanfield is a syndicated columnist, motivational speaker and author. His latest book is “I Can and I Will.” For more information, visit his website at www.rickstanfield.com.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Procrastination is the devil's friend