That perpetual hourglass that keeps appearing in my rear-view mirror has been a prime motivator for focusing on a word that everyone uses. The word is LATER. 

It’s been a part of my vocabulary since memories began logging into my brain. I’ve used it as an escape route during busy, mostly frustrating times. I could call up numerous examples — like the time Christmas evening one of our grandchildren kept asking me to read her a book. She was in a pre-reader age, but loved books.

She was too young to understand my kitchen duties — all the cooking her family was expecting from me, or the wet clothes in the washer that were giving up on being in the dryer. My “to do” list was far beyond the comprehension of my grandchild, so I used THAT word for the usual escape route — “Mama C will read it to you later.” 

I still remember finally getting the kitchen duties under control and going to find a book and my little book lover. I found both. She was holding the book she had selected, but she was sound asleep for the night. That feeling of regret was the kind that still clutches to my memories. LATER was an ugly word that evening, but even if I didn’t say it as often after that, I still used it in my mind as schedules and workloads seemed to keep kidnapping my time.

My parents’ theme song could have been “I’ll Be Loving You Always.” They remained inspirational sweethearts and inseparable until God called my daddy home. It was heavenly jubilation for Daddy, but Mother had to face life in a loneliness she had never experienced. God was faithful to comfort her — her children were confident of that, but her need for us to be near her increased. She never asked for things; it was our time that she wanted and needed.

Time and work (call them life schedulers) can come at the most difficult times. Workloads increased for me just as Mother was needing more of my time. “I can stop by later, Mother,” or “Can I run by later when I finish this project that has a deadline?” There I was using that ugly word again — not at every request but more than I should have. 

Then it came — her call from God and the end of that ugly word — LATER, with reference to my mother. Christmas presents lists are with us again. We will spend lots of time, energy, money and some frustrations in completing our lists. Let me offer a suggestion. For those that are dear to us and still occupy this planet, your time would be an irreplaceable gift. Savor those times. Relish them. That ugly word LATER always carries an expiration date.

Camille Anding, The Daily Leader, P. O. Box 551, Brookhaven, MS 39602.