Categories
Decisions

I’m Going to be a Grandpa!

This week my son and daughter-in-law announced that they are expecting their first child.  This means that I will be a grandpa for the first time!  Why is it that this is one of the statements that you never forget?  When I think about my life, there are four decisions or statements that stand out for me:

When I accepted Jesus as my Savior.

When Beth, my wife, said “I DO”.

When I found out that I was going to be a dad (three times).

When I found out I am going to be grandpa!  Hopefully many times!

 

When I think about these events in my life, where are three things that stand out to me:

First, they are all about relationships.  Truly the relationships in our lives are the most important things and the things that really matter and that stand out to me.

Second, none of them are about the jobs I have had in my life.  Work is important and it provides the income you need to provide for your needs, but it is not the thing that is significant in my life.

Third, none of them are about things.  I could buy all the gadgets and toys in the world, but they would not stand out as an event that I remember or look forward to.  In many respects they are just distractions that take me away from the relationships that really matter.

If these things are true for you, what are you doing to strengthen the relationships in your life?  Have you told the people in your life how important they are to you and what they mean to you?  Have you spent time talking to God and listening for His direction in your life?  Do you need to make some changes, maybe spend less time working or playing with your toys and more time talking with your spouse, children and God?

There are always things in our past we wish we would have done differently, maybe putting more emphasis on the relationships that are really important.  But there is nothing stopping you from making relationships a priority today.  Try to be more intentional at being more involved and engaged with those that really matter, including the time you spend with God.

 

Categories
Decisions

WHY???

Today the question that is on my mind is:  Why does God allow things to happen that don’t seem to make sense?

I think of the young woman my wife spent the day with who suffered a serious brain injury in a car accident.  Why was she injured when all of the other passengers had no permanent injuries???

I think of my daughter Kala who came down with Type 1 Diabetes and now has to spend the rest of her life taking insulin and monitoring her blood sugar every day.  Why does she have to watch what she eats when others can eat whatever they want with no impact to their life?

I think of my friend Paul who died of a heart attack 10 years ago at 44 and left behind a wife and three great kids.  Why did God take him home so early???

I think of a friend who came down with cancer that almost took his life and has left him disabled and unable to work.  Why did he have to suffer and be impacted so much???

The list of things that happen to good people who are Christ followers and who have made wise decisions with their life can go on and on.  And for me being an analytical person the pursuit of wanting to know and understand the reason why can be overwhelming.  I like to have answers.  I like to know why a decision was made or someone got sick, but God doesn’t always give us the answer to our questions.  Some times the answer is “just because”….

But that doesn’t seem fair or just!  I want explanations that will never come…which brings me to my lesson.  God does not owe me an answer, He just says “Trust Me”.  God says don’t worry about tomorrow, but rather make today count.  God does not say think about yourself first, but rather Love Others!

The question why is hard for me.  When I wrestle with the question why, it keeps me from accepting who I am and who God has made me to be.  When I look for answers instead of accepting my circumstances it allows me to think about myself first and not others and when I do that Satan wins the battle for my heart.  It is hard to love others and care for their needs when I am caught in my own world of questions, doubts and sometimes anger.

Is it wrong to ask the question why?  Absolutely not, it is more a question of how you choose to respond when you don’t get the answer you want, or you get no answer at all.