On a Day Like Today
If you lived during the sweetest of times with me (the late 50s and 60s), you’ll probably remember this old song by Pat Boone: “On a day like today we passed the time away, writing love letters in the sand”. I didn’t write in sand two days ago on the anniversary of my sweetheart’s graduation to heaven, but I did LIVE on purpose that day by going for a long walk in the bluest blue skies scattered with the whitest cotton-ball-white clouds. The birds were chirping and the trees where swaying in the cooler morning breezes. I write this blog today as a love letter to God thanking Him that I’m still here LIVING on THIS day!
As I walked, I was a noticer! I paid attention to people waiting on their city bus. I noticed dog walkers and construction workers diligently building on the children’s hospital next door — people earning a living for their families. I saw this squirrel that was in a stand-off with me. I won. He was guarding this beautiful grove of pecan trees with big pecans on the ground. I slipped them in my pocket as souvenirs of this day! The memory came from my daddy and me driving to the country and the pecan tree groves where we loaded our bags with pecans. I don’t have many memories of my childhood, but thanks, God, for this one today. It must have been indelibly imprinted in my mind.
A bit nostalgic, I wrote a love letter in my journal to my sweetheart. I reminisced and I went there – there where my heart was for so many years. I didn’t shed a single tear because my eyes are wide open for a day like today when I can embrace the love all around me here on this side of heaven.
My sis-in-law called to “remember” with me. My friends sent photos of yellow roses (always our favorite); others sent texts, FB, and Instagram messages. And, yesterday, my grandson, Payton, flew a cross country flight (3 different airports) in honor of his Papa the pilot.
As the day came to near-end, I attended a Celebration of Life for sweet Bella, a friend’s beloved dog who went to Dog Heaven last week. A sweet cross was nailed to a tree in honor of Bella. How symbolic is that (the cross made out of a tree nailed to a tree)? How precious it was that not just pet owners came out to the dog park, but even those of us without pets. We have friendship in common. As friends, we came together to console, love and support our friends.
The day after – yesterday, I played pickleball with dear friends – because I could. This time last year – no way – too much sciatic pain. Here I am a year later – healed and whole. And, last night we celebrated my grandson’s 15th at Austin’s Capital Grille and afterwards to the Driftwood Club where we golfed, played pool, and celebrated the 15 years of blessings with this sweet young man.
So, I ask you…..what’s not to be grateful for when God is so, so good? We have choices to make every day. The choice to be an introvert and stay within our walls and give ourselves pity parties for what we don’t have. Or we can integrate into life in this land of the living — from person to person spreading the good news of WHO lives in us. So, we will be glad with abundant life and not sad. “Christ came to give us abundant life.” (John 10:10).
Yes, eternity awaits us, but why go there until it calls our name. Why not LIVE in the abundance that THE GIVER came to give us. Why not accept that GIFT of the GIVER and live in that abundance in the Land of the Living for as long as God gives us breath on this side of eternity? I don’t know about you, but I plan to live today as if it were my last day here. I want to make what matters most matter — my relationship with God, my family, and my friends. Those are my numero unos. I’ll have all of eternity to hang out with those on heaven’s side. I won’t let their eternity influence this day on this side of heaven. Let’s live this side of life with gusto!
“Where would I be if I did not believe I would experience the LORD’s favor in the land of the living?” Psalm 27:13