Life is short.
That's it.
I've had constant reminders around me the past few weeks of how short life is. The frailty of it. The beauty of it. The saddness of it. And the sheer joy of this life.
I have a wonderful life (thank you Clarence for letting me borrow your line). I have family and friends that love me. I laugh with them, agonize with them, cry with them. I'm so lucky.
I'm going to go out and live my life to the fullest, because I don't know what is going to happen tomorrow, next week or next year. Too many times I can get bogged down with the ridiculousness of life, the unimportant things. I think the time for that has come to a stop.
Who's in? Who's going on this ride with me?
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
Unconditional Love
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preserves."
-- 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
When I was in eighth grade I had to memorize this Bible verse. It's one that I can always recite at weddings because of Mrs. Mitchell in 1983.
Yesterday, being Valentine's Day, I got to thinking about unconditional love. I know my family loves me unconditionally, but that love is something that has always been there since I was born. Kind of like breathing, in some sense I suppose, I've taken it for granted because it's just always there.
Since I moved to Dallas though I've been lucky enough to experience unconditional love in a different way. I always felt like I should live here and the birth of my Godchildren solidified the feeling. Even though they're five, there is nothing they could do that would turn me against them. They've thrown fits, puked on me, peed on me and on one unfortunate occassion, pooped me. Through it all I love them like I've loved no one else.
I've cried when I knew their feelings were hurt. I've been overjoyed with their accomplishments. I'm almost always sad to leave them. They can make me laugh like no one else. I do things with and for them that I would otherwise never do. If I wasn't sure before, I know now that I am capable of loving someone unconditionally.
The other thing that amazes me is that they love me just as unconditionally. To them I can do no wrong. Any decision I make is okay with them (granted they're five and don't know any better). There is a beautiful picture that their dad took of them a few years ago where they were sitting up in a tree and I had just arrived at their house. In the pictures I know they're looking at me and the sheer delight on their little faces is pure love.
How lucky am I, this day after Valentine's Day to be able to have two shining examples of what Paul wrote in his letter to the Corinthians. Two beautiful hearts that love me unconditionally. (Ali and Jen, if you're reading this - it's pretty close to the same thing I feel for you, but thankfully I didn't know you in diapers - <3 you).
-- 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
When I was in eighth grade I had to memorize this Bible verse. It's one that I can always recite at weddings because of Mrs. Mitchell in 1983.
Yesterday, being Valentine's Day, I got to thinking about unconditional love. I know my family loves me unconditionally, but that love is something that has always been there since I was born. Kind of like breathing, in some sense I suppose, I've taken it for granted because it's just always there.
Since I moved to Dallas though I've been lucky enough to experience unconditional love in a different way. I always felt like I should live here and the birth of my Godchildren solidified the feeling. Even though they're five, there is nothing they could do that would turn me against them. They've thrown fits, puked on me, peed on me and on one unfortunate occassion, pooped me. Through it all I love them like I've loved no one else.
I've cried when I knew their feelings were hurt. I've been overjoyed with their accomplishments. I'm almost always sad to leave them. They can make me laugh like no one else. I do things with and for them that I would otherwise never do. If I wasn't sure before, I know now that I am capable of loving someone unconditionally.
The other thing that amazes me is that they love me just as unconditionally. To them I can do no wrong. Any decision I make is okay with them (granted they're five and don't know any better). There is a beautiful picture that their dad took of them a few years ago where they were sitting up in a tree and I had just arrived at their house. In the pictures I know they're looking at me and the sheer delight on their little faces is pure love.
How lucky am I, this day after Valentine's Day to be able to have two shining examples of what Paul wrote in his letter to the Corinthians. Two beautiful hearts that love me unconditionally. (Ali and Jen, if you're reading this - it's pretty close to the same thing I feel for you, but thankfully I didn't know you in diapers - <3 you).
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