Life is What You Make It

I ended my school and work week today by attending the funeral of my friend's daughter, who lived only seven days because of a heart defect. I arrived at the funeral feeling exhausted and overrun by my current stressors: work, school, and many other aspects of life. I was caught up in myself and my own problems.

Then I walked through the front doors of the church and things changed. You might say the viewing and funeral gave me what we therapists like to call a cognitive reframe. My problems and concerns didn't go away, but I was reminded of the perspective from which I ought to view my life. I was especially reminded of the miracle that life is.

As this little girl's family spoke of her little life and how hard she fought to live during the days she was here, not only did I greatly admire their immense strength, but I reflected on my own life. I thought of when I was born with collapsed lungs and wasn't supposed to live. I thought of when I had bacterial spinal meningitis and wasn't supposed to live. How my IV broke and I almost bled to death and wasn't supposed to live. I thought of the times since when doctors said I shouldn't be alive. I thought of the times I didn't think I could make it one more day because of the pain or the sickness or whatever.

I wondered why I was left in mortality and why this baby girl was called home now. And it occurred to me how both she and I had a very specific mission, and God needed us each in a different place. He truly has a plan for each and every one of us.

I further pondered how frequently we take life for granted...how often we get so caught up in the daily routine and the struggles and frustrations that we completely forget the big picture, and we forget to cherish life. I know I'm guilty of that, especially lately.

I need to remember to find joy in the little things: the sun shining, laughing, having a good conversation with a friend, serving, having a client say "thank you," taking pictures, smiling. Life is hard, but we can find joy in the journey.

Paul said, "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." -Romans 8:18

It's the storms in our lives that refine us.

And then, this evening, I looked up at the mountains, and a rainbow shown through the clouds.