No Regrets!

Life is so precious. I think we take it for granted most days because that is how we are wired. If we thought every waking second about the meaning of life we would be wound so tight we couldn't enjoy it. Yet, sometimes there are bumps along our "normal" path and these bumps force us to take a look at why we value what we value and why we do what we do.

I have seen several close friends hit those bumps these past few weeks. Even today I heard of a loved one going through tremendous life change that is not pretty, not good, and completely unjust. Why? I can't say I know that answer. Why people suffer, why people go through times of tremendous stress is something people have been debating for centuries. I'm not going to even try and touch that question in a blog. But here is what has struck me hard...in a moment's time, your life can go from "normal" to completely crazy, and it is basically out of your control.

Ok, so that doesn't sound comforting or encouraging. I can imagine you're thinking, "Why are you blogging about this? You want us all depressed?"

Absolutely not! Why I am blogging is to encourage you as long as you have today, live it to its fullest! Are you doing what you want? Are you living for something bigger than yourself...or your bank account? I mean, with the economy the way it is, our dollar could be useless tomorrow. Are you using it today in a way that maximizes its potential?

Last night I went to a dinner honoring our ministry partners at church who live all over the world, using their time, money, and talents to help those who have no hope for a better future. They are sharing Christ. They are sharing access to health care. They are sharing their very lives.

Today may be all I have. So today I plan to sniff my sweet baby's head as much as possible. I plan to take him outside and let him play (his favorite), even if that means I don't get to finish the project I had planned. I am going to cook dinner and make sure I plan time to hang out and chat with Sander. And, as we make decisions about what to buy, what to save, and all the little life things we do - I want to be sure we have no regrets. No regrets that we didn't celebrate life and all the little phases. No regrets that we didn't do more to help others. No regrets that we bought a lot of stuff we threw away.

I know I don't share a lot from the Bible on here, but this section from the letter Paul wrote to the Ephesians is so applicable to what I am thinking this week....I have to share:

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Basically it says: figure out what God wants from your life and then be smart enough to do it once you know. Don't waste your time on stuff that just makes you feel bad the next morning and you regret, but instead sing, be thankful, and do it all because Jesus Christ has made your life meaningful.

Life is hard. Life is short. But as long as we have today, live it to the fullest! It may look like the smallest thing to you, the little choices you make make to live without regrets, but I think of the Mother Teresa quote: "I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." What a letter it is. Let's be a part!