Dust if You Must

My Mom is always telling me to slow down and treasure my time a little more.  I just laugh and run faster into the swirl of work and kids and the stuff that takes all of my time and energy.  She sent me this today and I can't help but notice how sweet and true this is. 

My family spent a lot of time living this past weekend and a lot less time dusting.  I liked it.

                                                                                                           

Dust if you must . . .

but wouldn't it be better to paint a picture or write a letter,

bake cookies or a cake and lick the spoon or plant a seed,

ponder the difference between want and need?

Dust if you must, but there's not much time . . .

with wine to drink, rivers to swim and mountains to climb,

music to hear and books to read, friends to cherish and life to lead.

Dust if you must . . .

but the world's out there with the sun in your eyes,

the wind in your hair, a flutter of snow, a shower of rain.

This day will not come around, again.

Dust if you must , but bear in mind,

old age will come and it's not kind....

And when you go - and go you must -

you, yourself will make more dust!

It's not what you gather , but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived.