Isn’t it curious the ways in which we measure time? For instance, we have mealtime; summertime; springtime; bedtime; nighttime; daytime; limited time; part time; FaceTime; hard time; next time; prime time; on time; good time; and lifetime, just to name a few.

It’s the latter in this list that got me thinking about time. Last week, my cousin’s husband, who I still consider young, had a stroke. It was a bilateral thalamic stroke, which the family was told is very rare. Doctors in Dallas, where Ryan is, even told my cousin that he may never wake up.

Needless to say, this diagnosis rocked the core of our entire family. Not that we haven’t been through tough times or suffered losses, but this incident was just so unexpected.

And because of this sudden twist of fate, I was once again reminded that life can be altered at any time, so I need to be cognizant of my time left here.

Sometimes I get caught up in the quagmire of life, forgetting that so many of the little mundane things I fret about are so incidental. Therefore, I am trying hard to focus on what really matters in life.

Let me give you an example of what I mean. A few weeks ago, I was invited over to a friend’s house to play Mah jong. I am a newbie at the game and have just learned how to play, so every chance I have to hone my skills is certainly needed. I accepted the invitation.

Could I have used that time tidying up my house, which had become tumbled after a busy week at work? Sure I could have, but I also considered how much fun it would be hanging out with friends, so I chose the latter.

For some this may have seemed like an easy decision to make, but for those of us who are OCD and neat freaks, there is a cosmic pull to clean, making it hard to let go of the dust rag.

But once I did, I was glad. Having a spotless house definitely pales in comparison when it comes down to spending time with friends.

I haven’t’ always made wise choices and, looking back, there are regrets, especially when it comes to motherhood. Now I am not saying I always put my kids on the back burner while I vacuumed the house, but I put my kids on the back burner when I was vacuumed the house sometimes.

Mothers do have to clean up messes, but in retrospect there were a few I could have just swept under the rug. There is no going back now, unfortunately, but I can let this lost time be a reminder that once it’s gone, there is no going back.

As the seasons of my life have come and gone, one important measure that I have yet to mention that got me through was prayer time.

I can’t honestly say I have always dropped to my knees on every account, but when life throws out those hard pitches, prayer time has managed to see me through.

And thankfully, this has been true for Ryan. Amongst the family who have prayed for his recovery and many others – maybe some of you that have also offered up words of healing – it has made a difference. Ryan woke up and is beginning to recover. This is a grateful time for sure.

My high school human physiology teacher Mrs. Kinzer always told us there was no time to waste until you knew everything.

I would just say, there is no time to waste.

Terri Cowart Frazier writes features for The Vicksburg Post. She can be reached at terri.frazier@vicksburgpost.com.