Saturday, October 29, 2011

Living Life - Dinner #34


     One day, while my husband and I were still dating, Brandon sent me the internet link for a tear-jerking video about a little baby who only lived for 99 days.  The baby’s parents took every opportunity to celebrate that child’s short life, and when he passed away, they released one balloon for every single day that God allowed him to be on this earth with them.  I do not know the religious background of the family involved, but I do know that they blessed the Lord for both giving them their child and then taking their child home to be with Him.  That 6-minute video changed my perspective on life, forever.  We do not know how long God has given us any of our little ones, and every moment we get to spend with them is worth celebrating!  Some people might think it’s silly that Brandon and I sing “Happy Birthday” to our Brooklyn and take photos of her on the 20th of every month.  Some people might shake their heads when they see every status we post about our little girl on facebook.  The truth of the matter is, we have no way of knowing what day will be the last we get to spend with her!  She may live to be 85 years old . . . She may live until tomorrow . . . Is that a morbid way to look at life? I don’t think so!  It’s the way God INTENDS for His children to look at life – as a vapor – as a gift that is given to us for a time – as something special to be treasured and not taken for granted. 
     Yesterday was cold and wet outside, and Baby and I both seemed to be feeling a little under the weather.  Chores were suddenly put on hold as Mommy declared a “holiday” for sleeping, snuggling, watching TV and reading stories.  Brooklyn and I were bonding with each other, and we both knew it.  Do we often get so busy with the day-to-day stuff, that we forget to just SPEND TIME with the ones we love?! In Psalm 90:12, Moses offers up this prayer to God: “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”  
     We do not know for what length of time God has given to us our children, but in the same way, we do not know how long God has given to us our OWN lives.  Proverbs 27:1 says, “Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” If you were to suddenly leave this earth today, would your children remember Bible songs and bedtime stories, or a dust-free home 365 days of the year?  Isaiah 38:19 tells us, “The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth.”  What are we doing with the life God has given to us?  What are we seeking to leave behind? Are we praising Him? Are we telling our children about the Lord?
     No one really likes to dwell upon it, but we all need to realize that someday our time will come.  We aren’t going to be alive on this earth forever! In Psalm 39:4, David declares, “LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.” Do we realize how frail WE are? Do we realize that we could die in a car accident, be diagnosed with breast cancer, or suffer a fatal heart attack . . . TOMORROW?  Psalm 144:4 reminds us that, “Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away.” We NEED to think on these things!  We NEED to remember that we are “. . . a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.” (Psalm 78:39) We NEED to realize that our children are a gift to us only for a time! We NEED to make sure we aren’t taking our days and our breaths for granted!  James 4:14 “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” May each of us seek to spend our lives LOVING and LIVING to glorify His Name!

The “99 Balloons” Internet Link - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=th6Njr-qkq0

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