We only have one life on earth and one eternal one—hopefully in heaven.
If we always wait for the right conditions, things will never change. Will we ever be open to the possibilities that exist now? Will we experience the great joys amidst the challenges in daily life?
Time for us is calculated. It is measured out for us by God. He is the keeper of our days as we dance and breathe on this wild earth.
There are many moments that tell the story of our lives:
- Being held for the first time as a baby cuddled in the arms of our parents.
- Our first taste of fresh pasta.
- Wading into the ocean with bare feet in the sand and rocks.
- Traveling to a different country and meeting friendly locals.
- Driving for the first time.
- Accomplishing a goal on our bucket list, like publishing a book.
- A whispered prayer for help.
- Laughing with our spouse about an inside joke.
- Seeing our loved one’s beauty with new eyes.
Living with chronic mental illness, I have to constantly remind myself not to overthink and replay negative thoughts. I am so glad the Lord knows my final day. I wouldn’t want to know when it is coming, though I do want to be prepared for it.
My gratitude for the sacraments inspires me to attend to my spiritual needs. Confession is a routine check up that never disappoints me. God’s mercy flows into my heart and humbles me. Again and again I mess up. I feel like a stinking disaster. The Lord Jesus cleanses me of disordered desires, fixes my childhood wounds, and gives me the grace to start living in peace.
One battle we face in life is hanging on and letting go. May we live as Jesus calls us to and believe in love that conquers sin. Letting go of what we can’t change is a better posture to take.
I can’t change my diagnosis but I can change my prognosis—the likely course of how I live with a medical condition. A healthy interior life and positive mindset are a recipe for resilience. St. Joan of Arc said, “one life is all we have and we live it as we believe in living it. But to sacrifice what you are and to live without belief, that is a fate more terrible than dying.”
Every day I wake up and roll out of bed is a blessing. I believe in God’s timing. His plans are bigger and better than what I could try to design.
As I water the roses and lavender in our garden in the early morning or late evening, I praise the Lord for my beautiful life. The good gifts I receive from the Lord keep me balanced and outweigh all the stress and challenges that come my way. If I could write a line in my own obituary, it would say something like this: “Lisa’s passion for sharing the hope she found in Jesus carried her throughout her life.”
Next time you find yourself reflecting on your life and feeling regret, remember you have only this fleeting moment to choose how you are to live.
As it says in the Book of Isaiah, “behold, God is my salvation; I will trust and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”
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