What Truly Matters...

Before I begin today's Life with Lynnie (LwL) entry, I would like to wish my grandson T, a very Happy Birthday!  I'll look forward to seeing you, and celebrating your special day!

Here on LwL, I mentioned in the past that even up until this date, it would be a stressful time for me.

And, it has been.  After all, it's not easy losing someone you love.

I believe that each of us who are widowed, hope and pray that grief will end.  But, in my heart, I don't believe it ever does.

Not just for parents, siblings, and friends.  But, in a much larger way... for your husband, or wife. 

Even though we may know that our loved one may be in Heaven, no longer suffering, it isn't easy.

Have you ever met anyone who didn't want to have happiness in their life?  I haven't.  That is something that I believe every one of us have in common.

I've written in the past the difference between joy and happiness.  Joy.  True joy comes from God. 

We feel this whenever we who are saved, think of God's love for us.  How He sent His only begotten Son, to die for our sin and for the sin of all who will believe.

Like my fellow believers, I have true joy in my life.  True joy in my Lord!

Does this mean I am always happy with the circumstances surrounding my life?  No.  However, even if I am enduring a horrible time in my life, I still have joy!

Leaving aside the idea of joy for a moment, let me say that I do not always feel happy.

Especially, like today. 

While it is my grandson T's birthday, it is also the anniversary of my deceased husband Gordon's funeral.

Like you, I experience rough patches in life.  It isn't always kind to me.  Things don't always go the way I would like them to.

In fact, even now, at this moment in my life, I can say that I would prefer my life to be different than it is.

If I had my way, I would have control over issues that have affected my life.  Issues that have literally made my life different than what I would have ever dreamed it would become.

But, I don't have control over life.  Neither do you.  We all just need to be able to make the best, with what we have.

You know what I mean.  We need to be able to make lemonade to enjoy, rather than fill us with the sourness of lemons that can pucker up our lives.

If we don't make lemonade, then it is possible that we could become hardened to others.  Not just our plights, but theirs, too.

That's something that God has made clear He doesn't want for us.  A hardened heart.  The way the Pharaoh of Egypt had, in the Old Testament.

In Galatians 5:14, we read, "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

Yes, we need to fulfill the law... we need to love thy neighbour as thyself.

So, does it matter if we are happy?  Not really.  Our lives here on earth might seem long, but in reality, are very short, when compared to eternity.  Forever, is a very, very, very long time.

Aside from the fact that God loves us, and aside from the fact that Jesus loved us enough to give His life for us and sent us the Holy Spirit to guide us, what truly matters is the love we have for others.  Not whether others have love for us, or not.


Until next time...

If you would like to comment, please e-mail:  lifewithlynnie@gmail.com