I was the last of four children. When you’re the last in the family, you become labeled with a name we “last ones” do not like; it’s “the baby of the family.” I was 56 years old and my older sister Mary Ann, still called me the baby of the family.
Being the baby has its problems. I was four when my older sister went off to school. Oh, how I wanted to go to school. Two years later I was in kindergarten only to find out when you’re in kindergarten you’re the low man on the totem pole. Oh, I longed to be in 1st grade. First grade was great for awhile but then I decided the best position would be 6th grade since that is the highest grade. I found out it’s cool to be a sixth grader but I’m not in junior high. Junior high came; it was great but I couldn’t wait to be a senior. My goal was to graduate, get into the real world, see what the world had to offer and not be some small town senior.
After graduation I went into the Air Force; I couldn’t wait to get out of basic training. In basic training, I was lowest of the low; I knew it and so did everyone else. I wanted to be in Air Force Tech School. I got into Air Force Tech School, the school of my choice. I just wanted to finish school, to use my gifts and talents. I got out of tech school. I got into the Air Force unit I chose, had a great time, traveled a lot, worked hard, learned a lot, grew up but I just wanted to get back state side. When I got back state side, I couldn’t wait to get out of the Air Force so I could go to college. I got out, went to college, and wanted to get out of college so I could get a “real” job.
Along the way, I fell in love with a beautiful girl. We worked hard. We couldn’t wait to have kids. We had kids, two of them, what a joy. Mom didn’t really want them to go to school but they had to and they began to grow. Before we know it, they were 18 and walking out the door to college.
The house became quiet. They finished college, got jobs, grew up and now we wish they would get married and we could have grandkids. Then they…and then after that…and then later…and then what??
I sat alone on a beautiful winter night contemplating and wondered if other people go through life seeming to live in the wrong time. By wrong time I mean always looking ahead and seldom, if ever, enjoying today…
Today is the day of salvation. Today may be the last day of our life. I thought I’d never say this but: live for today, live wildly, live radically today. Live for Christ today. None of us are promised tomorrow. When we are always concerned with tomorrow, we don’t live and enjoy today.
James 4:13-15 (The Message) says: “And now I have a word for you who brashly announce, "Today - at the latest, tomorrow - we're off to such and such a city for the year. We're going to start a business and make a lot of money. You don't know the first thing about tomorrow. You're nothing but a wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing. Instead, make it a habit to say, "If the Master wills it and we're still alive, we'll do this or that."
Being the baby has its problems. I was four when my older sister went off to school. Oh, how I wanted to go to school. Two years later I was in kindergarten only to find out when you’re in kindergarten you’re the low man on the totem pole. Oh, I longed to be in 1st grade. First grade was great for awhile but then I decided the best position would be 6th grade since that is the highest grade. I found out it’s cool to be a sixth grader but I’m not in junior high. Junior high came; it was great but I couldn’t wait to be a senior. My goal was to graduate, get into the real world, see what the world had to offer and not be some small town senior.
After graduation I went into the Air Force; I couldn’t wait to get out of basic training. In basic training, I was lowest of the low; I knew it and so did everyone else. I wanted to be in Air Force Tech School. I got into Air Force Tech School, the school of my choice. I just wanted to finish school, to use my gifts and talents. I got out of tech school. I got into the Air Force unit I chose, had a great time, traveled a lot, worked hard, learned a lot, grew up but I just wanted to get back state side. When I got back state side, I couldn’t wait to get out of the Air Force so I could go to college. I got out, went to college, and wanted to get out of college so I could get a “real” job.
Along the way, I fell in love with a beautiful girl. We worked hard. We couldn’t wait to have kids. We had kids, two of them, what a joy. Mom didn’t really want them to go to school but they had to and they began to grow. Before we know it, they were 18 and walking out the door to college.
The house became quiet. They finished college, got jobs, grew up and now we wish they would get married and we could have grandkids. Then they…and then after that…and then later…and then what??
I sat alone on a beautiful winter night contemplating and wondered if other people go through life seeming to live in the wrong time. By wrong time I mean always looking ahead and seldom, if ever, enjoying today…
Today is the day of salvation. Today may be the last day of our life. I thought I’d never say this but: live for today, live wildly, live radically today. Live for Christ today. None of us are promised tomorrow. When we are always concerned with tomorrow, we don’t live and enjoy today.
James 4:13-15 (The Message) says: “And now I have a word for you who brashly announce, "Today - at the latest, tomorrow - we're off to such and such a city for the year. We're going to start a business and make a lot of money. You don't know the first thing about tomorrow. You're nothing but a wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing. Instead, make it a habit to say, "If the Master wills it and we're still alive, we'll do this or that."
1 comment:
Good luck with the grandkids!!
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