Life

What is life? Life is our very existence. We are life, and everything around us is life or was created by life. As I write this, summer is fading out and fall is just around the corner. Warm sunny days, cooler nights, and the hint of leaves starting to change color. Seasons change whether we want them to or not. Life keeps moving on and nothing we do can stop it. Things happen that are beyond our control. Many people have lost loved ones and lives have been changed, never to be the same again. The coming and going of life is nothing any human can control.

Thankfully, it’s in the hands of someone far greater than us! God has a plan for each of our lives. He gives us life, and He takes it away. But in between the beginning and end of our life, He gives us a choice. We can either live a selfish life by looking out only for ourselves, or we can live a life poured out for God. Only when we put God first in our lives and make Him the center of everything we do, can we really live a life of purpose. Without God, life is empty and meaningless because God Himself is Life!

The last few years have revealed to me how precious life really is. The world, our country, and even our community has been going through so much. There has been the pandemic, political unrest, and in the past couple months, there have been many deaths in our community. Each of these have reminded me just how valuable life is. It has made me stop and ask myself if I am really living my life to the fullest. Am I living the life God has called me to live?

God calls each of us to different places and different responsibilities, but there is something that He calls all of us to do. He calls us to love the people around us. Does my everyday life portray Jesus? Does the way I live my life show others who God is?

Every day we have choices. We can stay focused on all the work that needs to be done, or we can take time to visit our elderly grandparents. We can dwell on our own problems, or we can take time to pick up flowers to encourage a friend. We can roll up our window when we see that homeless guy on the side of the street and pretend that we didn’t see him, or we can open our window and with a smile on our face, greet him, bringing a little bit of joy into his day. We can stay stuck in our own little world, or we can be aware of things going on around us. Sometimes all someone needs to brighten their day is a simple smile. Most of the time, it’s the little things that mean the most.

The choice is ours; we can go through life looking out for only ourselves, or we can reach out to those around us. I am far from perfect in this area and have so much to improve on, but I have found that when I reach out, life is so much fuller and has so much more meaning.

Recently, someone made a comment that has stuck with me. “Every time we interact with a person, we either give, or we take. There is no neutral.” The only way we can give is to abide in the One who is life itself, our Dear Lord Jesus.

“Again, Jesus spoke to them, saying, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”

Striving to live for Jesus,

Neva