The Way We Live

May entered the lounge where her husband was sitting when her foot caught the edge of the carpet. She just managed not to fall down.

Seeing the smile on his face she said, “Oh, you are enjoying this and I imagine you would have laughed if I had fallen down,” she said.

“No, May, I was smiling before you entered and yes, If you fell I would still be smiling but not at you.”

“Why are you smiling then?”

“I’ve been thinking about our lives. We’ve experienced many good times, smiling times. We’ve also had some hard times and lately we have financial problems, we are concerned about our children and we need to fix the car. We are experiencing some non-smiling moments.”

“So… Why are you smiling then?”

“Let me explain. Imagine if we would die today, enter into heaven and look back at our lives together, we would notice all our smiles and frowns, our ups and downs.”

“If Jesus would ask us if we enjoyed life we would answer yes, except during these trying times, times we frowned, moaned, grumbled and groaned.”

“Why, He would ask, because He was always present to turn every bad day around.”

“I suppose we would answer Him that it is not nice to suffer losses or damages or other bad things.”

“I can imagine Jesus smiling back at us and ask why we think He created us in the first place.”

“I realised today that God’s reason for us to live is simply to enjoy every second of our lives in His presence, regardless of success or setbacks.”

“I am smiling now because I have decided to enjoy every second for the rest of my life on earth.”

“I know we have problems but hey, I’ve cast all our cares on Him because He told me to(1Peter 5:7). Jesus is here! He is willing to carry everything we are willing to give! He knows those who trust in Him!” (Nahum 1:7)

“Even if I would be terminally ill with only a few days left, praise God! I would be in heaven soon!”

“Heaven will be nice but I am here now and I’m going to enjoy my life because I am alive.”

“When we enter heaven I want Jesus to notice the smile on our faces, not because we have arrived, but because it was the way we used to live!”