Fun in the Son…Freedom with Christ
So, if the Son sets you free, you shall be free indeed. (John 8:36, NIV)
July 25th, 2022
RELISH: PICTURE PERFECT
It’s quite easy to begin to take things for granted in this life, right? We seem to feel entitled to being disgruntled, feeling as if life is taking its frustration out on us. Especially, recently, with all the things in this world that now seem to be breaking, even shattering. Our world feels broken, from the weekly mass shootings and the skyrocketing gas prices and food costs, with inflation at an all-time high. The roar of critical discontentedness is drowning out all other voices.
What would happen if we relished instead of whimpered? Cherished instead of complained? Admired rather than accused? Savored instead of sniveled? Enjoyed rather than objected? Defended over opposed? Embraced instead of rejected? I wonder what kind of a difference that would make in this world today?
There were simpler times when choices were few. When I was a kid, we weren’t given so many options. That’s because so many options weren’t even a possibility. But when they were, us kids weren’t offered that menu. I’ve taken my gramkids to candy stores and toy stores and entertainment places and their eyes become the size of saucers as I imagine them picturing all of what they view being theirs. We loved amusement and water parks but learned quickly we couldn’t afford them because the imaginations of little guys can’t account for lack of money and sleepless hours, and it wasn’t possible to do everything in the allotted time we were given on a conservative budget.
Isn’t that just a portrayal of life to us grown-ups? Doesn’t it bring out the ‘Nope. Not today’ and ‘I’m not up for adulting today’ statements we joke about? It’s like life is this humongous vending machine and we hope that with every next emotion we pop into the payment slot, that another new adventure vends out. We swipe through someone else’s vending machine of life and see they have greater emotions, and therefore, bigger adventures and we connive how to get where they are to have what they have.
What if we just paused to savor what we each individually have been gifted instead of feeling entitled to have more? What if we cherished our own photo galleries—not to edit out the imperfect stuff to create a perfect picture, but rather glanced through our own feeds and concentrated on the details we might be missing, that if noticed, might help loved ones unmask hurt and expose hopes and longings? What if we relished all we hold precariously in the palm of our hands and then ended up with more? More time, more money, more hope, more memories. Because we didn’t waste it on the competition with others who likely aren’t even paying attention to us since they’re too busy making their own picture look ‘perfect’.
We have been given one life. One. One life. That is all. Live it wisely.
Ecclesiastes 9:9, ‘Relish life with the spouse you love. Each and every day of your precarious life. Each day is God’s gift. It’s all you get in exchange for the hard work of staying alive. Make the most of each one!’ (MSG)
Out of all the living things God made, He created mankind to BE. Whatever, whoever, you are, Beautiful You, BE the best version of you; BE the change this world needs; BE filled; BE free!
