The Mystery of Life . . .

On Saturday I attended the birthday party of my precious 4-year-old-granddaughter. The party was well-attended by both kids and adults. The party was well-organized and included numerous activities for the children. The adults sat, nibbled on munchies, visited, and watched the children play and enjoy themselves. As I looked around, I saw the mystery of life on full display . . . in full circle. I saw the beauty . . . sweetness . . . excitement . . . joy . . . and innocence! I delighted in that pure gentleness!

As I sat amongst the adults and looked into their faces, I saw the marks left by life upon them. As I sat and looked around, it occurred to me that, perhaps, it wasn’t the marks of life as much as it was the cause and effect of how they had lived life . . . choices made, journeys, and experiences. One middle-aged lady spoke of her adult daughter being up in the New England area . . . living with her dad . . . and going to school. She boasted of how she had shifted the heaviest cost of education over to her Ex. The lady was a bit too loud . . . and what I would describe as being a little course, rather homely . . . and revealed something of a sad life. I think the tattoos she displayed revealed that she had not learned the art of gracefully surrendering the things of youth, and had tried to hold back the clock. Of course, her efforts were in vain.

There were ladies who showed the signs of the on-going struggle between wanting to eat rich foods, yet retain their figures of earlier times in life . . . others had simply given up and yielded to taste buds and cravings. Most had spent both time and money in a nail shop, as well as having color done at a beauty shop. There was considerable jewelry on display . . . some very nice . . . much costume.

One of my favorite life quotes is, “The choices we make, dictate the lives we live.” I saw that on full display on Saturday afternoon as I watched and listened to some sad people . . . some seemingly happy people . . . and some excited children.

I was reminded of Peter’s instruction in 1 Peter 2:1-2, as well as the great truth of the words of the old hymn, “Oh, what peace we often forfeit, oh, what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.”

I was not critical nor judgmental of any of those fellow strugglers . . . I was however, saddened as I considered that this wild, excited, precious, innocent group of children running around today . . . having a great time . . . would one day move in similar seats and watch another group of sweet kids at play. I prayed that my sweet little granddaughters would escape the painful, scarring things of life and would instead live as God intends!

It Seems to me . . . that life is not really a mystery in as much as it is actually a series of choices and decisions that must be made . . . and the certain consequences of those choices and decisions. Perhaps the real mystery is why we are so slow to comprehend and embrace that reality.

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