One of These Days
By Bill Shepard
My most often saying when I’m faced with putting something off to a later time is, “I’ll do it one of these days'” My good wife heard me make that expression just a few days ago and I heard her say, “That will be a busy day if it ever gets here!” She was referring to the many times she has heard me say that line. It is my way of saying “not now! later! sometime! or tomorrow!” I like to think that I am not alone in that category of men who too often put off until tomorrow the things I should do at the moment. And I readily agree with my wife that that day, one of these days will be a very busy day.
Bill Shepard
Regardless of the way we say it, whether sometime, tomorrow, later, or another day, they can all be bundled into one word, procrastination! That word or the meaning thereof has been around almost as long as mankind! Bible readers might recall the story when God sent swarms of frogs into the land of Egypt and to Pharaoh’s palace to persuade him to set the children of Israel free. Tired of the frogs, Pharaoh asked Moses to entreat the Lord to take away the frogs and he would set the people free!
“When should I entreat the Lord on your behalf?” Moses asked. Pharaoh’s answer, “Tomorrow!” Typical man! As bad as the frogs were, the king was willing to wait one more night.
I have a long row of azaleas growing along a narrow road leading to my barn. They have grown to be small trees. The reason being that for several years I have been procrastinating about cutting them back. In the spring and summer I say it is too hot, and in the winter I say it is too cold, but I’ll get around to the task, one of these days! Yes, if that day ever arrives and I do all the things I have put off doing, that day will indeed be a busy day!
Procrastination has a strong ally! Its name is presumption! When procrastination shows up presumption is usually close by. It says, tomorrow, or later will be a better time, no use to be in a hurry! And it is always loaded with all the reasons as to why you should wait. So the problem remains and like my azaleas grows larger.
That kind of thinking and reasoning is usually followed with another companion called “Regret!” We then hear words like, I wish I had! I meant to! I’m sorry, and others. Those lines often drip with remorse and tears. Regret, for any reason is a terrible companion to live with. Avoid it at all costs.
Remember, tomorrow is a thief and it will rob you if it can. Beware of this thief; he comes in various ways. This thief is subtle, cunning, and deceptive, and has no respect of person. He robs the rich, the poor, and the smartest of men. The words “too late” fall from the lips of all of its victims.
If you have something that you really need to do, there is no better time than now.
That small leak in the roof, left unattended, will one day cause the roof to cave in!
Paint the house, mow the lawn, trim the hedges, take your family on a picnic, write that letter, visit your family members, call an old friend, better still, pay him or her a visit. Do it now! Later may be too late!
He said he would visit an old friend today, but he put it off til Tomorrow!
He said he would call today, but it could wait until Tomorrow.
He planned to start attending church, and even give his heart to Jesus, but he would wait until next Sunday!
Tomorrow, he will be buried at noon!
All the things he meant to do will be left undone.
Maybe someone else will do them, Tomorrow!
Someone wrote….”It isn’t the burdens of today that drive man mad, it is the regrets of yesterday!
Procrastination is the Thief that robs us of Today! Think about all of this Now! Tomorrow could be too late!
For want of a nail, the shoe (horse’s) was lost,
For want of a shoe the horse was lost,
For want of a horse the rider was lost,
For want of a rider the battle was lost,
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost,
All for the want of a nail!
Benjamin Franklin
Mr. Shepard is a native of Darlington, S.C., and a current resident of Piedmont, S.C. He is the author of “Mill Town Boy” and “Bruised”. He has been sharing his tales of growing up in Darlington for decades, and we are delighted to share them each week.
His mailing address for cards and letters is: Bill Shepard 324 Sunny Lane, Piedmont, S.C., 29673.
