I believe I may have missed much of my life.
I didn't realize for the longest time that Jesus said he came to give us life; life abundant. I merely possessed "getting by", "making it", "same ol' same ol'" kind of existence. God wants us to really live!
When we really live we don't sweat the small stuff, but we praise Him for it. If your shoes wear out, you must have legs and feet which are not crippled. If your eyes are strained, evidently you are not blind. If your back aches, the assumption is you are able to sit up on your own. If you have too many people clamoring for your attention, you must be either popular or in an important position or both.
Wax museums are full of "life-like" figures who look so real....but have no life. Streets and cafes and even churches have the same kind of inhabitants: people who appear real but have no life in them.
I'm on a campaign to love life right now! I tell God thank you that both arms work. One day a stroke might change that. I tell God thank you for headlights approaching me and taillights leading me...for the time might come I can neither drive nor see.
I tell God thank you that I am so mobile I am very tired at the end of the day. The day may arrive when I can't get to be as busy as I am now tempted to complain about. I tell God I am so happy He lets me read about Him via writings of Yancey and Nouwen, etc. Evidently my brain is still engaged in learning.
I'd hate to never realize the privilege of getting to be my many assorted wonders until it was all stripped from me. Liking myself has nothing to do with ego. It has everything to do with appreciation and gratitude.
I like right now! I won the lottery....and I'm it. How about you? Do you get it you've won the lottery and discovered He lives where you do?
6 comments:
Terry, I'm a friend of Angie's. But hear me out anyway. :)
No, I just wanted to say that I loved this post! So many people I know are suffering with so many difficulties. I've recently realized how each day truly is a gift. And to live in a way that I would live if I knew I only had a few days. I don't think I'd be obsessing over my house. I would be living love.
And we do only have a few days, if you think about it. Let's really live them and join God in what He's doing!
Okay, this is long but wanted to say thank you for your words today!
I love it, "I won the lottery...and I am IT!" It is all a matter of perspective, isn't it. God's prespective shines light on every situation. Seems like I can see it every where but not in myself. Thanks for reminding me that I am a "created in His Image", creation. Keep praying! Love you, Lynn
Where's the love, Amy? Where's the love?
Terry!
"I believe I may have missed much of my life."
I can identify with that so much... And that's what makes the realization that I've won the lottery so much sweeter. NOTHING has been wasted. The tears, the anger, the apathy... wherever I've been in the past, He has redeemed it by the sheer joy of knowing Him. REALLY knowing Him. I'm so glad he's been so longsuffering with me. And that has changed my 'todays.'
I'm with you, man.
While God can see the end from the beginning, the only string we have to play on is the present. The now is the only moment we are guaranteed so let's make the best of it. Regrets are yesterday's missed opportunities. Successes are taking advantage of the right now.
Terry...I love you today! I love that I got a hello hug from you yesterday...and then another hug in the hall...and yet then a goodbye hug before I left. I'm happy you are a person that is so full of life because being around you...it's totally infectious. You make me feel special and that makes me feel like I won the lottery! See you next week!
I have won the lottery and I am loving my life!! Great Post. Thanks for sharing!!
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