Life is Short and Sweet

Island Creamery

There is no doubt that I am getting old as I have started to think of birthdays as indicators of another year "used up". But not in a negative way. No matter how good this life is, it is not our home.

God has reminded me that life is like children on a playground. It is exciting and fun, and we should make the most of it. There will be bullies and injuries, so we need to help one another. And there will be that slide that seems too steep or that tower that seems too high to overcome. You have to decide whether you will allow your fears to stand in the way.

At mid-life, I can comprehend that life is truly short, but it can be truly sweet. How should I make the best of it? For one, make more memories and record them down.  Our eldest son is in University and we don't see him as much, and the two younger kids are growing up far too quickly. Having records of the good old days is important to remind us that God has been so good. Another thing is to pay forward as God has intended rather than having His blessings stuck with us. We can only eat and wear so much in this life. Everything else is an excess. The third thing is to give life to those ideas that have been playing on repeat in my head.

At some point, playground time will come to an end and the child will need to go home for dinner. Friends will passionately plea for the child to stay a little bit longer. I see this happen every week when I try to get my younger kids out of the swimming pool - a series of "5 more minutes please?" Over the last couple of years, and also in recent months, there have been friends or their family members afflicted by serious illnesses. It is like that child who got hurt on the playground. As much as all the friends want the child to stay a little longer, the parent will have to take the child home.

Not too long ago, I too was hurt on the playground. The pleas of friends werr like prayers to God for "another 5 more minutes". I thank you for your prayers, support and friendship all these years. You have been such a blessing to me. I hear and I feel the intense grief of those who are left behind on the playground without their friend. I pray that you will trust and know that God wanted your love ones home for dinner and a good rest so that they can play with you again another day.