I’ve been working in a nursing home for almost two years now. I have so many thoughts and observations forming over this time I could write a book.
One that struck me recently is the stark contrast between my life and what I observe about the residents I love.
Most days it feels like I have so much to do and so little time to do it.
The residents I love and serve have so much time and so little to do with it.
My life is filled with running a household, cultivating friendship with my husband, teaching and discipling my children, incessant talking and laughter, nagging my children to help around the house, problem solving, imminent concerns and fears, church life, suffering, crying with friends, laughing my head off to keep sane, having company over, appointments, phone calls, far too much texting (I’m obsessed!) obstacles to overcome, tackling projects, counseling, cooking, cleaning, weeding, laundry, tasks to accomplish…and on and on.
And I often complain.
What am I complaining about? In all of these things I have been given life. Life! Purpose. God-given time on loan. Just for a little while. It’s all a privilege. What will I do with the time given to me?
We all have life. For a little while. But if we get older it will diminish. Our world will get smaller and less full. When I see my resident friends, I often see glimpses of myself one day.
I may very well wind up alone one day, no longer in my home, without visitors, unable to take long walks, kiss my husband, hear my children, tackle projects, read, write, or speak….But guess what I’ll still have? Life. Because if I have Jesus, even if life gets smaller, I have everything.
Maybe my life will abruptly end instead. Because I don’t know the day or the hour I will breathe my last, I want to be asking the Lord to number my days, that I may gain a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:12)
The good news is if you have Jesus, as life decreases, hope can increase. Every day you wake up is one day closer to being with him forever. On that day when this life ends, eternal life will be more full than you could ever imagine, brimming over with new and wonderful beauties. New purposes each morning. You will once again embrace, laugh, run, tackle projects, explore, learn, cultivate, create, and have purpose. To your heart’s delight. Without sin.
Life in eternity because he gave his life for
us.
John 10:17-18
For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.”
Eternity. All the best things from this life accentuated and made new. And all the fallen, hard things put under his feet and crushed forever.
Just like when our kids ask us, “What are we doing today Dad and Mom?”, we’ll have all of eternity to ask, “What are we doing today Father?”.
It will be an even fuller life. A life lived to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.
So whether you feel life diminishing or overwhelmed with life being filled, take hope.
-KDB
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