Favorite Things Friday: Being Alive!
Happy Friday to you all! This will be a shorter post since I have been working on some other projects this week…
Have you ever thought about how blessed you are to be alive? There are special days where more than usual I realize just how blessed I am to be healthy, happy and alive. My life has it’s issues just like everyone else but I am blessed to have another day. Here are some of the things that remind me about how wonderful life is…
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A recent game of “Circus” also known as “Hop on Pop.”
My children make me think about how cool life is. Our oldest daughter is 5 and she is a ball of energy. There are times where she is exhausting because she has access to that endless supply of youthful energy that adults somehow miss out on. She is so imaginative, quirky and fun. Her game of the moment that she likes to play with me is “Circus.” It basically consists of her running full speed at me and jumping up for me to catch her. Her trust, love and growth make me thankful to be alive each and every day.
- I have a lot of great older people in my life and I often hear them say things like, “It’s a good day because I woke up.” I know a good number of them start their day with a cup of coffee and a quick scan of the obituary section to see if anyone they know is in there. For most of them I think it is a reminder of the preciousness of time and an encouragement to make the most of the day. So many of the older people I know are as active at 70 as I am at 35. Older people don’t seem so old anymore.
- My busy schedule makes me thankful to be alive. I currently have a sheet of paper I am carrying around with me with all the things I can think of that need to be accomplished in the next two weeks. It could be daunting and overwhelming but lately I have been feeling blessed to have an abundance of things to do and clear purpose for everyday. I end each day with a huge pile of things left undone but make sure the important people and things get my time and attention. I enjoy being busy, helpful and getting things done.
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They grow up so fast! Our baby said, “Claire…bear?” when she saw this.
Our youngest daughter also gives me daily reminders of the value of life. She is 18 months old and at an age where she is learning new words daily. The excitement she has when she is able to communicate with us is contagious. There is nothing better than coming home to a little toddler running towards you screaming “Daddy, daddy daddy.”
- Over the last month there seem to be an abundance of people offering encouraging words and compliments. My wife is my biggest fan and most honest critic. She constantly encourages me in our work at home and in my ministry. More than ever there seem to be a large number of people giving me encouragement in my ministry work and compliments that I don’t deserve. There’s even a surprising number of you guys who read this blog that let me know how much you enjoy it. The clear realization that I am making a difference in at least one life makes me excited to get up each day.
- Here’s the crazy one for anyone that has known me for a while. I think my new early schedule is a HUGE factor in enjoying life even more. I used to be a night owl going till 1 or 2 in the morning. I can still occasionally do that when there is a special project, but for the most part I go to bed with my wife around 10 of 11 and wake up around 4 or 5 everyday. I am scared to say that I think I am becoming a morning person.
Well, my list could go on for quite a while…but I said this would be a short post. What makes you thankful to be alive? I bet you have some really cool things in life that make you realize just how special it is. If you feel like it, leave one in the comments section below.
I’ve been trying really hard this year to take better care of myself. I wrote a post for DIYTreadmillDesk.com yesterday about the health benefits of walking, running and walking while you work. I think most of you guys would enjoy reading it. There is some surprising information coming out about the health benefits of both running and walking. (Yes, I am writing this post on my treadmill desk early one morning before I start my work day.) I feel healthier than I have in a long time. I’m not running marathons but I can keep up with my kids and work all day outside so I think I’m doing pretty good.
I hope it is a great day for you! Get out there and enjoy it…
I know I’m especially blessed to be alive. I should be dead. At least, that is what was said by the paramedic and the cop who responded to my accident when I was 18. Most people just don’t elk away from hitting a telephone pole at 50mph in a car with no airbagsand a rear engine.
Wow Edward! I would say you’re blessed to be alive for sure! My wife is a nurse and has seen plenty of people who have accidents like that. To walk away from that is amazing!
Jon, when you mention playing circus with your daughter reminds me of when my kids were little and played a game called “mad dog” never did figure it out but they had fun. I am thankful when I can do something for someone else. I enjoy making prayer blankets something that takes very little time but means so much to people they are given to. Many times I don’t know them have heard from someone else they are sick and need them. Linda
Catie and I have talked about life and death before a bit. We concluded that if I had 9 lives, I’m probably siphoning off lives from someone else by now, even going so far as to create dialogue, “Hey wait! I’ve only used 6 of my lives and NOW I’m dead?” ..,”Oh, yeah, sorry about that. Seems Ted Nolen used your bottom 3. Sorry” Didn’t say it was nice. I get up each day because God has a use for me, or otherwise he’d have taken me home. I might not know that purpose (though I can certainly guess at SOME)but I trust there is purpose and that alone is reason to keep going in whatever capacity I can. I don’t like a LOT of the cards dealt to me in the last decade, but,like so many other things, God didn’t ask me.
I volunteered for this service to God and as long as He grants me another day, I have an obligation to do His will, whatever that might be, and I think the first thing involved is not to waste it. Cheating myself is one thing, but cheating God is quite another.
Jon, I really do enjoy reading your ” favorite things Friday”. I had a heart attack a few years back and when I arrived at the E.R. the nurse said, you are having a heart attack right now and she was very surprised at my alertness. Did not think I would make it. I am so glad to be alive to see Stephy return to her loving self. I thank my God for the privilege of living.