Dying to live....

As I sat here and thought about what to write today, mulling over in my mind things I have read recently that I thought then would be good to share, I noticed a book that I have quoted from before.  It is a book my sissy sent me several months ago called Dance While You Can by Lance Wubbels.

I turn to the first page identified as 'Introduction' and proceed to read....

"First I was dying to finish high school and start college.
  And then I was dying to finish college and start working.
  And then I was dying to marry and have children.
  And then I was dying for my children
       to grow old enough
  so that I could get back to my career.
  And then I was dying to retire.
  And now I am dying....
       and suddenly realize that I forgot to live."   
                                         ~~ Author Unknown

My little sissy had written on the page opposite of it these words....

"Sissy, When I read the following page ~ I thought of you and I.  Let's not let each
other forget to live!"

Both of these writings are powerful.  And so much like us, don't you agree?  I am not so sure the first one applies much to me, but enough of it does.

How do we forget to live?  We forget by pouring so much of ourselves into our careers that our families have nothing left of us at the end of the day.   We forget by doing outside activities that have nothing to do with family and putting the activity first.   We forget to live because we allow others to live our lives by control.  We forget to live, because we have never chosen to live.

What does living mean?  Webster's definition of living is ... to be brief, "to be alive".  "to maintain oneself". "to act or be in accordance with".  "to have a life rich in experience".  Interesting definitions for live, living, lived.  I obviously did not list them all.  I was trying to pull the 'living' aspect of the word in.  To have a life rich in experience - what does that mean? 

Living a life rich in experiences could mean many things.  What I feel about that statement could be something totally different to you.  It all depends where we are in life, our age, our job, our culture - many things could change what we think is rich in experiences.

For me, I choose to believe that my life has been rich in experiences, not because of my career or job (or joblessness at this point), but because of living my life in these times.  I have experienced the pain of heartbreak and the joy of pleasure.  I have experienced death of loved ones I held dear, and the distancing of those I only want to hold close.  I have liked, and I have loved.  I have walked when I could have run, I have stopped when I could have gone.  There is no going back for what is lost; one must look ahead.   I choose to experience life and all it has for me.

True, some of it hasn't been good.  I have made some wrong choices, and I have been put in situations that are out of my control.  But I have experienced life in all these things.

I have seen the birth of grandchildren and laid to rest nieces and a nephew that barely had a chance to live.   I have dreamed dreams that have come true, and some that have not and may never come true.  I have had opportunities I have taken, and opportunities I have turned away from.  I have held on to what is good, and let go of what is not.

But in each of these things, willingly and unwillingly, I have experienced life. 

I may never have my dream job.  It may not be mine to have.  But I have a dream, and a far greater one than that.  I can reach for the stars and know that if it is His will for me, no matter what my dream is, He will answer it.  What He has for me is far greater than I can dream.

I want to 'die to live'.... achieve much, love more, give even more.   How about you.... dying to live or living to die?

Empty me, Abba, of those things I hold dear, so that I can have more of You.

Blessings!