A better life – One Day Wonders with JBK

Today we celebrate the Fourth of July. Do you have a fun day planned?

Recently we had some family visiting; which is always a joy. But for the most part I spend my days doing ordinary things. Today may not look much different to the naked eye. Hardly thrill-seeking stuff.

When you have received so much that requires upkeep, I encourage you to feel fortunate. Not everyone has a home with a full pantry, a laundry room and a working vacuum.

Listening to news reports of the unrest worldwide can be a downer. If you feel as though we are losing freedom; that the rules of law seem to change daily. I will share what I recently read. We have the following freedoms:

To express love.

To feel at peace.

To practice patience.

To show kindness.

To live out goodness.

To exercise faithfulness.

To be gentle with others.

To demonstrate self-control.

I cannot take the credit for this list, it can be found in our Good Book; in Galatians 5:22,23. Taking it one step further, the book reads that these freedoms are just that, free. There is no law against any of them. Imagine!

The problem is not everyone is lovely, at peace, kind, good, or gentle. It’s a challenge to be patient with those who don’t trust you and have zero self-control. Welcome to Jesus’ world. Yet the above is exactly what he is doing with me, and possibly you too.

No where will you find that life on planet earth is easy. The world we live in only makes us hungry for a better life. No problem there, right?

To attempt even one of these freedoms is a challenge worth taking. We may never know what someone else is going through. I think it was an Indian that said walking a mile in his moccasins can change our perspective.

I’m thinking it would be hard to not reciprocate the kindness or goodness lavished on me. Someone once said smiling is contagious, we automatically smile back when even a stranger lays one on us. And hugs don’t cost a cent, yet can warm even the hardest heart.

But it doesn’t stop here. The Good Book says in trying to follow these freedoms, we will be blessed ourselves. Who among us couldn’t use a little heavenly perk?

Have a Happy, safe and maybe a challenging fourth of July!

Do you know what your purpose in life is?

For the longest time I didn’t give it a thought. Not even wondering if there was a reason for my existence. Today I have a better grasp on it. But I find it changes with time.

Or maybe it’s just me changing, realizing there is more involved to living than just existing.

I’ve mentioned my cousin Diane in a previous post. We spent a lifetime separated. Not deliberately. The circumstances of our lives were worlds apart.

During those separated years, Diane made the family she never knew as a child.

“I made a good life. I have wonderful children and we are happy.”

Except she always wondered.

Through all those sixty plus years, she never stopped thinking of me or my brother. We did share the same grandmother, after all. We had that much in common.

Doing volunteer work in the library gave Diane access to a computer. My guess is that is where she conducted her search. Obviously my brother and I were found.

What I hadn’t realized when I met Diane, was this completed her life. Finally. She had extended family of which she also belonged. That brought her satisfaction and closure.

That dreaded C word

Soon after I learned she had cancer. This was not her first go round with it. Mentally she was prepared that this would take her. And that was okay. With her, but not me. To my way of thinking, we were just getting started.

We agreed about life after death. Only she was at peace with wherever she went. I hadn’t known her long enough to share her peace. Because I wanted her with our Creator. Life is better knowing he is by our side at all times. Whether we are on planet earth or face to face.

Tag: A better life

Let Freedom Ring!

Then She’s Gone