The Realizaton

This month I will celebrate 1 year of retirement.
As I reflect back on the year that has passed, I have come to a few realizations.
First of all, I realize that I will never complete all of the projects I have planned or my wife has planned for me around the house. That may not be a bad thing as it gives me purpose for getting up every day.
Secondly, I have come to the realization that I need to make a decision on who my friends are. I seem to have more casual relationships than true friendships. That also may not be a bad thing as I have been told that if you have just one true friend,you are truly blessed.
I had a conversation with my wife the other day and told her that in reality, we only have each other. When the chips are down and I really need to count on someone, she was the one I could count on. After knowing each other for over 40 years and 38 years of marriage, I believe that is as God intended.
And lastly.I have come to the realization that the things I used to think were important,are not really important at all. I do not have to keep up with everyone else. I want to have a more simplified and quiet life. The time to be on the go all the time and to have the latest and greatest have passed.
I am excited about entering into my second year of retirement. More projects getting done, more time with my best friend, and less complexity in my life.

Reflection

Since today is my birthday, I decided to spend a little time in reflection. So I have shut myself up for a few hours surrounded by peace and solitude to do just that.

I have come to the conclusion that I am basically happy with my life. People always ask me if I would change anything or would have done things any differently. And after giving it a lot of thought, I would have to say no.

You see if I had changed anything, my life would not be what it is today. I would not have the wonderful wife that I have known for over 40 years. I would not have my two great kids or four grandchildren that I have now.

Has it always been happy and carefree? No. Will I continue to struggle in the years ahead at various times? Yes.

But that is life. A journey of new experiences. And although the end of the journey is closer than ever, it is so much sweeter.

And when it is over, I hope it is said of me that he was a man who loved God and country,family and friends, and helped others along the way as he could.

So it is time to start down the road of life once again. The time for reflection is over. But I have decided that it is perhaps best to go at just a little slower pace than before and truly live life to the fullest. Yes, I believe that is the secret. I wish I would have realized that years ago.

Here's to life!

The Sacrifice

My granddaughter has broken out with a terrible rash as is very fussy. It seems as if my new granddaughter is allergic to the dairy in mother's milk. Therefore, my daughter has to follow a dairy-free diet for the next few months.

Have you ever tried to find items that do not have dairy in them? It can be a real struggle.

Hence the purpose of this particular blog.

My daughter has to put forth quite a sacrifice so that the baby will get better.

The giving of yourself for the betterment of another is quite admirable in my book. It takes a conscience decision to say, "It is not about me".

Although a change in diet is nothing as compared to the laying down of one's life for another, I am very sure if that was required, it would be done.

In John 15:13, Jesus says, "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends".

I do not know of any parent who would not be willing to lay down their life to save one of their own children if it was required of them.

And once again I am reminded that I have a Father who loved and sacrificed.

A Father who let His own son die so that I might live forever.

A true sacrifice of love.

The Miracle

A little more than a week ago, my fourth grandchild was born.
She had ten fingers and ten toes (I think every grandparent counts) and a full head of hair.

During this past week I have once again been reminded of what is truly important in life. It is as if time has stopped and nothing else matters.

I have witnessed the hand of God touch a couple and give them a miracle. I know it may sound a little dramatic, but that is what it truly is. A miracle.

There are so many people that go through life not slowing down long enough to look at the miracles around them.

When was the last time you sat down and just watched birds gather their food or watch ants going about their everyday jobs?

You see, the miracles are all around us and we do not even realize it.

We get caught up in life. And before we realize it, life has passed us by.

I hope you get to see a miracle today.

I know I will be seeking mine.

And when I find it, I will give thanks to the One who supplied it.

The Eyes of a Child

The other evening, we went to the fair at Pomona with our daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter.
I never did find that deep fried banana split that I blogged about earlier. But that is not the purpose of this post.

As I get older, I find it very comforting to try and see things through the eyes of my granddaughter. The excitement of looking at the baby animals and taking her into the petting zoo. The joy she finds in looking at all the lights and pointing out to me things that I would never have noticed.

It makes me a little sad when I realize that she will get older and start to see things as an adult.

This old world could be such a beautiful place if we would just look at it as a child sees it.

My granddaughter has shown me that it does not matter what color you are or where you worship.

The important thing is that we love each other. I remember my friend Jesus saying that too.

My granddaughter knows Him. I wish the world knew Him. What a beautiful place this could be if we started looking at it though the eyes of a child.

The Citizenship Issue

The other day I was caught up in the issue of citizenship. It seems that everyone is concerned about the rights of undocumented workers,but no one is concerned about the rights of the American citizen.

As a Christian, I guess my views are a little different than the majority in the world today.

In the 22nd chapter of Matthew,the Pharisees are trying to trip Jesus up in His words. After asking for a coin He asked them whose picture was on it and they responded "Caesars". Jesus then responded,"therefore render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's;and unto God the things that are God's".

I believe that I have certain responsibilities as a citizen and certain responsibilities as a Christian. As a citizen, my responsibilities are to follow the laws of the country that I am a citizen of. I am also afforded certain rights associated with that citizenship.

The United States has in place programs that will allow anyone to get their citizenship and along with it all of the rights associated thereof.

I also believe that people need to realize that we all have the same mother and father. You see, after the flood, there was only Noah's family to repopulate the earth. Whether people want to accept it or not, we are all related and should start treating each other that way. This is my responsibility as a Christian.

It all boils down to this. It really doesn't matter if you are a citizen of this country or any other.The question is "Are you are a citizen in God's kingdom"?

For when your days here are done,that will be the only thing that really matters.

So I will continue the work God has called me to do. To get others their citizenship into the Kingdom of God.

I think mom and dad would be proud. I know God is.

The Things Kids Teach Us

Not long ago I was in a Target store with my granddaughter where they have these nice new baskets which are all made of plastic.

She was walking alongside the basket, and when I stopped, she decided to crawl head first into the bottom of the cart. Laying prone in the very bottom looking at the floor. She then turned on her back and started looking at the ceiling. The next time I stopped, she got out, turned around and went head first into the bottom of the basket the other way.

It got me to thinking. Every place children go, they only get to see whatever is 2-3 feet off the floor. Whether it is Target or Disneyland. Not a very pleasant view when you think about it.

Maybe we can take a lesson from my granddaughter. When things are not looking very good from where we are at, maybe we should change our position. Try to look at things from a different view. It might make all the difference in the world.

Of course my daughter is a little upset because every time she goes to Target, my granddaughter wants to get in the bottom of the basket.

Oh well, it is a small price to pay to teach Gramps a lesson in life.