Our Little While
I woke up Friday, December 14, excited about my birthday. It’s not a “special” year, not an “0” or “5” year. But the older I get, the more grateful I am for every year, for life. That was my mindset Friday morning. And by midday a mass shooting had occurred, stripping life from twenty children and six adults in an elementary school.
How is it that I lived to see 46, and many of these victims only lived to see 6? How do you make sense of that? How do you make sense of a mass shooting in a movie theater for the premier of “The Dark Knight Rises?” Didn’t we just mourn them? And every weekend lately, it seems, Bill is mourning the killings that have taken place in his beloved city, Chicago, among them children as well.
We know that we are “just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away” (James 4:14). But we don’t expect that vapor to be violently snuffed out. And maybe we can grasp the “little while” for ourselves, but for our children? While they’re still children?
But the cliché is true—tomorrow is not promised. Our life’s breath beyond this minute is not promised. What is promised is eternal life in Christ Jesus. I can’t make sense of that either, why Jesus would lay down his life for sinners, why He would willingly submit to a brutal death . . . for you and me. But because He died, we can live, for eternity. And because He was raised from the dead, we too can be raised to new life here on earth for a “little while.”
And in our “little while,” there will be many things we can’t make sense of. But there are also things about which we’re sure. We can pray. We can love like Jesus. We can share the good news of the Gospel. We can tell the world that no, tomorrow is not promised, but forever is—in Christ. We can tell them that He is our hope, our Savior in a very broken world.
Do you seek ways to glorify God in the “little while” you’ve been given?
10 Responses to “Our Little While”
This is well said.
Thank you, Tomiko. And so funny that you would drop by… I was looking through photo albums this weekend and saw pictures from 10 years ago at North Dallas when we were doing praise and worship at VBS. That was so much fun. Miss you!
Hey Kim and my other Fabulous sisters in Christ and brothers if they stop by…
First let say Happy Belated Birthday Kim! Also just to share with you all, I did pass all my finals and classes! The Lord is good and faithful for sure. Kim I love what you said and it’s something I’d actually thought about recently. I was just thinking through all the things that happened in my life this semester. It made me reflect and realize how grateful I am for the “little” things the Lord gives me. You know those treasures we consider small and even those down right terrible and sad days such as the Connecticut incident. I can say with a resounding yes I do seek to enjoy those gifts from my Heavenly Father. For example when I get annoyed by my dad telling me how I should do something or how he insists he has better dance moves then Michael Jackson, I sit and say Felecia one day you will miss his dancing and advice so enjoy it now while you can. Life is short so treasure each day. As you said Kim tomorrow is not promised and we are a vapor. There are more important things in life beside grades, whatever drama going on, or getting that new trendy item. Not to say grades are not important and that issues are to be taken seriously but in comparison to eternity it loses its punch in the bigger picture. Once again thanks for your perspective Kim!
Hey Felecia! Thanks so much for the birthday greeting! :) And CONGRATS on passing your finals and classes!!! That’s awesome. What a great way to end the year. And so interesting that, as elated you are (and should be), you are putting it in perspective in the bigger picture of eternity. I love that you’re also putting your dad’s dance moves in perspective. :) It truly does make a difference when we treasure the little things. I remember when my kids were toddlers, someone said to treasure those days of sitting on the floor, playing the same silly games over and over. :) Sure enough, those days passed super quickly…I can’t believe I have teens! I think I tend to look toward the future, toward the next season, but the “little while” is today. Right now. Praying we live each moment with a God-purpose. Thanks so much for sharing!
Happy belated birthday, Kim! I totally agree with Tomiko – this IS very well-said. I have to say, I hugged and kissed Adanya a little bit extra this weekend, because tragedies like this always serve to remind me of the fleetingness of all this here on earth. We are SO lucky that we have the courage to walk by faith, otherwise the horrors of this world would be too much to cope with.
I think that as I get older, I am more likely to seek ways to glorify God, even (and maybe especially) in the little things. You realize what is important as the years go by, and I keep learning and strengthening my belief that NOTHING is more important than our walk with God. If I have everything taken away here, I know I still have Him. So yes, I do seek to glorify God in all I do. I’m not always successful, but especially this past year, I am finding that when I start grumbling and working up a good “mad”, the Spirit nudges me and hear him say “You are here, doing this, for a reason….”….even if it’s sweeping the kitchen floor (again!), cooking (again!), changing a diaper (again!)….etc. etc. etc.
Kim, you’re so right about the toddlers growing up in the blink of an eye – right now I am IN that “sitting on the floor, playing the same silly games” phase, and I can’t believe how fast time is going. That thought to treasure these moments passes through my mind all the time; already, I miss all the cute little things Adanya “used to do”, and she’s only 2!!!!! :)
Blessings and love to all….
Thanks so much for the birthday love, Danielle! :) This totally struck a note…”again!”…”again!”…”again!”….I’ve soooo had those thoughts. Washing the dishes again and again…grocery shopping again and again…it never ends. And yet, God gives grace to treasure even those little things. There will come a time when there aren’t as many to cook for or to clean after, and I’ll miss those “again’s.” We truly can glorify God in those again’s! :) Aww, I love that Adanya is IN that phase! That is such a precious age. I vividly remember my daughter being 2, falling asleep in my arms… It makes the tragedy of this past week come into focus when we consider our own precious children and mourn for those who’ve lost theirs. You’re so right…I don’t know how we could cope in this world without faith. Blessings to you too, sis!
Morning Kim…
Love this verse…2Cor 3:18: “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
Jesus said, “I have given them my glory…” “Rise & shine…”
Paul said, “…the greatest of these is LOVE…”
We are to “cover the earth” with His glory & love and right now, it’s needed desperately.
“We are to “cover the earth” with His glory & love and right now, it’s needed desperately.”
Amen. Well said, Candace. May God fill us all with His holy love and give us the strength and wisdom to share it with all.
Well said, Danielle!!
Don’t know how I missed this, Candace:)….that 2Cor 3:18 is one of my favorites as well. Amen to the charge to “cover the earth”….one Spirit-filled vessel at a time!