What will you do with it?
On Wednesday we lay to rest the remains of my nephew. There will be many tears spilled lamenting the fact, “if only I would have”, about one thing or another. You will often hear a line from the Robert Burns poem, “To a Mouse” quoted like this: The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry. The meaning of this quote is quite clear, in that, we plan for our life to go one way, but life has it’s own plan. So we have to deal with the plan as it is unfolded before us, and make the best of it. Nothing was ever solved or made better by saying or expressing ‘what if’ or ‘if only’. So what is the best course of action, if we cannot depend on the plans that we have made? To me one of the simplest answers to that question is: Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Live every day as if it was your last day on earth, and the next day is judgment. Would you want to be remembered by your last words and deeds?
Many times I have heard comments at funerals made by people saying, ‘I never told them what they meant to me.’ My question is why? What stopped you from telling them how much you cared, or what they meant to you? Because of such a comment made at a funeral I began the habit of writing one letter a year to someone I respected, impacted my life, or was a mentor to me. Writing a letter let me express my sentiments without causing the recipient to be embarrassed, or myself to get tongue-tied or interrupted while speaking. I thank the Lord that last year’s recipient just happen to be my mother, and I expressed to her what she meant to me in a letter. Whether that choice was coincidence or preordained makes little difference, compared to the fact I have no regrets after her passing.
One thing that is true in life is people like to get mail. They love the fact that someone took time and energy to send them a card, a sentiment, or a letter. Some of you may say, I don’t have time to sit down write anyone a letter, baloney! No one ever has time for anything, we must make the time or take the time to do what’s right. Writing a simple thank you note for a kindness someone showed you is a good way to express yourself. Don’t let yourself be caught lamenting the fact that you should have, or would have, when you absolutely could have made a difference in someone’s life. Remember everyone on earth has a deep need to feel loved, and be made to feel special.
As parents it is important for us to teach our children important life lessons such as, humility, respect, and gratefulness. Learning these lessons would have them respecting their elders, giving God the glory for their talents, and having grace. If we can instill these traits in our children they can go on to do great things in their lives. The greatest thing would be a witness for the gospel of Jesus Christ, and by this people could see them living their faith every day.
We as authors often time bring our hero or heroine from the rougher side of life into the light. This is usually done by having them learn very important lessons in life, which they adopt and then teach to others, making not only their life better but the lives of those around them better also. Do you have any regrets in life? As long as you still live and breathe it is not too late to eliminate those regrets. Something to think about!
As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;
Psalms 103:15-17
Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
Ephesians 1:5-6
Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the LORD.
Leviticus 19:32
Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
I Peter 5:5