Back From the Future

(First paragraph modified to first person from Suze's lovely words)

I'm up before dawn on a Saturday when the doorbell rings. I haven't brewed my coffee so I wonder if I imagined the sound. Plonking the half-filled carafe in the sink, I go to the front door and cautiously swing it open. No one there. As I cast my eyes to the ground, I see a parcel addressed to me ... from me. I scoop it up and haul it inside, sensing something legitimate despite the extreme oddness of the situation. Carefully, I pry it open. Inside is a shoebox -- sent from ten years in the future -- and it's filled with items I have sent myself.



Each item is contained in an envelope. Two envelopes are blank, but scrawled across one, in the eerily familiar penmanship that only I can accurately decipher, are the words: "The solution to the thing you're worrying about right now." I don't want to think about the thing I'm worrying about right now, so I put that one at the bottom of the stack and finish making the coffee.

After my first warm sip, I'm ready to tear open the first blank envelope. I find a package of dental flossers, along with a short note that reads: "Stop screwing around and listen to the dentist already. Every day. You'll thank yourself in ten years. Thank you. (see?)" I smile, happy to see I've retained my goofiness...and determined to maintain a diligent tooth-flossing regiment. 


I move on to the other blank envelope. Inside is a photograph of a handsome young man and a pretty young woman. My kids in ten years. On the back I've written: "This is going to happen; there's nothing you can do about it. Don't take all the time you have with them now for granted."


Once the tears are wiped away, I confront the final envelope, ripping into it because I'm now anxious to discover the solution to my worry du jour. Inside is a small bit of paper with the simple words: "Stop Worrying!" I flip it over, hoping for just a bit more guidance, and read: "Matthew 6:26-27." I already know what it says. I've read it a hundred times, but apparently future me thinks I need a refresher. She's right. So I  go to my Bible and read the verses yet again:
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

Thanks everyone for playing along with Suze, Mary & me!  Can't wait to hop around and see what y'all have packed. If you're not in the hop, pretty please tell me in the comments at least one item you'd pack.

Comments

Heather Musk said…
I particularly like the envelope with your children in. My daughter is nearly 5, and I can't begin to imagine her being 15. It's going to happen though, so I'll just have to go with it and cherish these times while she's little and still thinks mummy's the best!
kjmckendry said…
Great list of things inside! Love that you put floss inside!!
Jackie said…
Your capsule is awesome! Brought tears to my eyes, but in a good way. :)
I love the Scripture that says 'BE NOT DECEIVED, GOD IS NOT MOCKED. AS A MAN SOWS SO SHALL HE REAP' I use this a lot to keep myself calm if someone does anything mean to me. Which admittedly isn't very often...

Maria
I love the Scripture that says 'BE NOT DECEIVED, GOD IS NOT MOCKED. AS A MAN SOWS SO SHALL HE REAP' I use this a lot to keep myself calm if someone does anything mean to me. Which admittedly isn't very often...

Maria
That last envelope's contents are awesome!
1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."
Arlee Bird said…
Beautiful! This makes all the sense in the world.

Lee
An A to Z Co-Host
Tossing It Out
Jennifer Lane said…
What a sweet time capsule. Seeing your kids all grown up would make any mom cry. Battling the worry thoughts is tough--I'm glad we have God on our side.
Lisa Southard said…
Some very pragmatic advice to yourself- the tree outside my house is packed with starlings today, made the last quote most atmospheric!
I love the contents of your last envelope!
Proverbs 3 v.5 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."
DL Hammons said…
I too need to take your advice from the future and use those flossers more often! :)

Thank you for your part in bringing us such an awesome blogfest! I had so much fun coming up with the contents of the box, and it really made me think.
Luanne G. Smith said…
Oh, your future you is really looking out for...you. Floss, floss, floss. And don't worry. That's some good advice. :))
Tara Tyler said…
awwww!
thats great stuff!
i need to floss more and worry less too.
thanks for hosting this!
Natasha said…
Thank you for dropping by.
And what a delightful story. Yes, worrying doesn't help at all- much better to just enjoy the moment. And let things happen as they are meant to.
That's awesome! Love the last item, and the second especially - so sweet!
Flossing is so boring.

I purposefully didn't consider my kids in ten years time, because they'll both be grown up, and I'm just not ready for that yet :-(
Suze said…
You're good people, Nicki V. Elson.
Mark Means said…
Thanks for hosting such a fun hop and great entry.

Keep on flossing! :)
M Pax said…
Very nice gifts you left yourself, Nicki :) Have a wonderful weekend!
Unknown said…
Loved it! we all need to be reminded sometimes to stop worrying and just live!
VR Barkowski said…
Lovely time capsule, Nicki. It's good to know your future self is looking out for you and your loved ones.

Have a fabulous weekend!

nutschell said…
ooh. I love those envelopes! And what a beautiful thing to see your kids 10 years from now. :) Thanks again for this awesome blogfest!
Nutschell
www.thewritingnut.com
Julie Flanders said…
This is so touching, Nicki! I loved it. And the flossing made me laugh. Well done! :)
Nicki Elson said…
So I see Erica's two sons are very different from each other...but both are expensive.

Christy, if you can't tell then I guess it doensn't matter how you got those fab abs. Love the mystery key.

Thanks for joining this hop - I just loved seeing your names on the list. :)
Christine Rains said…
Practical and sentimental! Excellent post. Thanks so much for hosting this awesome bloghop.
The contents of your box? Perfect. Amusing, practical, wise, and thought-provoking, all rolled up into one. I guess that's why you're getting paid big bucks to host this bloghop, right? (Well, at least you get our heartfelt thanks!)
PK HREZO said…
That verse always gives me chills. So powerful. I'm constantly reminding myself of it.
And gosh I'd be crying at a pic of my grown kids too. Holy cow would I.
Great post and thanks for the fun hop, Nickie!
Unknown said…
How lovely. (Except making me feel guilty for avoiding the dentist!!)
Thanks for stopping by the nut-tree today. Nice to meet you!
~Just Jill
Ha, Nicki, I think your comment showed up on the wrong blog - but yes, my kids ARE very different! (and trust me, christy exercises a ton, those are her real abs!) Thanks for hosting!
erica
Golden Eagle said…
A converse box! Of course. :)

Great list of what you'd find in your time capsule.

Thanks for co-hosting this blogfest!
Catch My Words said…
This looks like a fun hop! I'll need to write something up and enter tomorrow. Thanks.

And yes, be sure to floss your teeth.

http://joycelansky.blogspot.com
Denise Covey said…
When it comes to the future, it's our loved ones, especially our children, that we think of foremost. I'd like a letter from each of mine in that box.
D.G. Hudson said…
Great advice, and I like the Converse box.

Seeing the kids grown up would be enough to bring the tears. Any parent could identify with that.

BTW Nicki, I'm late catching up here as we were moving older daughter today. But I'm back and will continue my way in the list. Just so you know I'm not slacking. . .
That's so touching Nicki. Powerful reminders. Thanks for the fun blog hop!
dolorah said…
That was a fun box; so full of hope and inspiration.

.......dhole
Kittie Howard said…
Nicki, your envelope idea was pure genius, with so many intangibles made tangible. I must admit, my eyes misted.

And, I tried several times to leave a comment on M. Pax's blog, but it wouldn't take my name/email as it scroll down on it's own.
What a fun idea for a hop. I am fascinated by your response. Wise woman you will be 10 years from now. :-)
Sherry Ellis said…
Great list of things! Your dentist would be proud of you!
Nicole said…
Fantastic list, Nicki! I'm with you on the "Stop worrying" advice and the Bible verse. ;)

Thanks for hosting!
Very powerful and insightful! Love the little notes and words of encouragement! Great entry!
Trisha said…
Nice post - as a daughter sometimes I still can't believe I'm turning 33 this year. haha. Can't imagine how my mother must feel!
Ciara said…
I'm so, so, so sorry I missed this. Please forgive me. I will make it up to you during the next blog hop. I meant to email you to remove my name from the list, but with the memorial I was out of touch. Great list! I always need a sip of coffee before I can face anything. :)

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