Lately

Lately I have had a running theme in my life and the lives of those around me. And to simplify, we are not God. Period. 

You see, we spend so much time trying to control everything in our lives, but we have little control. 

The Bible says we should not even say tomorrow we will do such and such because we know not that we will have life on the morrow. It is also written on the leaves of that blessed book that we cannot add one inch to our stature. There are things in life beyond our control. 

What can we do then? Not much. 

Honestly, there is little to nothing we can do without the grace and mercy of the Lord. 

He gives us breath and life after all. He can easily take away our breath and there is nothing we can do to prevent our demise. 

We’re not put here to do things on our own. We were made in God’s image to glorify Him. 

Listen, I am a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a sister, an aunt, a niece, and a friend. I work in a heavily regulated industry and lead people. I have responsibilities, obligations, and am held accountable for everything I do. But I can only do so much. My abilities at work are limited in part by what others do. I do the absolute best I can, and I often fail personally. 

I was talking the other day with someone who related they worried their children would resent them when they’re gone. And I replied that I think that’s just a part of life. We are merely human, imperfect beings who make mistakes and get angry; we lose our temper but we do the best we can. We live the best we know how. 

That’s key. My dad said ‘do as I say, not as I do’, but I’ve tried my hardest to live my example. I want my children to be better than I am. I want people around me to not look down on me but I hope when they look on me, they see God’s love…through my sharp edges. I hope the example I set is one of compassion and love and humility. 

Life is really simple: live while we can, enjoy what we have, and know that a great, powerful, and merciful God has all control. He blesses those He loves and curses those He hates. But He knows who loves Him and His love abounds.