Appreciating Life

Today is a different kind of day for me. So today's message will be short(er) and just a lil more personal.

This afternoon I will be helping with a funeral. But it's not just A funeral. I didn't know this person. But I know her aunt. This person was only 4 months older than my oldest son. This makes her only 15. She fell ill. Drs didn't know what was going on but she contracted some kind of infection. Her body was not responding to anything. Then there was the coma. Apparently after waiting quite a while with no results, the family decided to remove life support, pray, and allow God to have His ultimate will be done. Good or bad.

Today I ask that you take a really good look at your family. See your child's smile. That silly thing they do. Even that thing that they believe is hilarious and you think it's the dumbest thing ever. Take a look at your spouse the way he or she looks at you. That confused look when they can't tell why you're looking intently back at them.

Now imagine a life without that child. Imagine a life without that spouse. For me that's amazingly difficult to even imagine. I can't imagine a day going by without seeing my son with his violin in his hand playing away. Or even just talking about music. I can't imagine a football season going by and not being able to see my younger son play. I can't imagine basketball season going by and not bring able to watch my middle daughter play. I can't imagine a day without taking my baby daughter to daycare and seeing her so excited when I pick her up again. I can't imagine a January birthday or Christmas where I found out my oldest daughter is hoping for another MK bag in another color. I can't imagine coming home and not finding my husband there.

Today, I pray that you see the value in your family and not just their flaws. Today I pray that you forgive their flaws, mistakes, everything. The time your child said that thing he shouldn't have said. That day your child looked at something out of curiosity and age that they should have been looking at. That day your child ran off at the mouth in an attitude and you thought you were going to knock their head off. The time you found that foolishness on their phone that about had you in a full panic attack. I've had all those instances happen and when I think back and when I wonder what would my life be like without those times (because it was only God that pulled me thru some of those) I don't think I could change it for anything. 

So I pray today, with tears flowing from my eyes right now, that we can all increase our love to the kind of love that Jesus had for us. The Love That Forgives everything and celebrates everything. The love that if God has to have his way and his will is not my will, that I know I have loved with all I had and I would have no regrets. But although that time would be hard, I can walk away saying I loved that gift with all I had while God allowed me to have it.

I pray that you all see the love in your home and love them all back. Be Blessed.