So today, March 5th, is my 75 birthday
anniversary. I am entering, in all probability, the last quarter of my life. If
there is a fifth quarter I will be truly surprised and amazed. As I look back
over the first three quarters of my life, I feel so blessed. The good lord has
not just graced me with so many good things but life went so well for me
because he has been on this journey with me, every step of the way. It was his
presence during the bad times that lightened the load and his steady hand on me
that made the good times so happy. I felt him rejoicing right there with me. I
am sure when this journey is over he will be standing there to welcome me home.
Somewhere in that first quarter of life, with my parents and
siblings, I learned what a loving family was all about. They laid the
foundation I have built my life on. Somewhere in that first quarter of life I
found my own true love and that was the missing piece of the puzzle for me, the
essential ingredient for having my own family. It was a time of growing up with
each other, through sharing, caring and sacrifice but we made it all happen
together.
In the second quarter of my life we built on that love and
tried to instill it in our children. This was the time when we really got to know
each other. We suffered together as we lost parents. We lamented over an empty
nest and watched those kids we loved so much, now going out to show us what
they were made of. Wrinkles and gray hair and all kinds of wear showed up.
Shakespeare said, “With Mirth and
laughter let old wrinkles come” and we did. Life back then was truly a
lesson in love and commitment and we looked forward to the next quarter.
In the third quarter life became so much easier. So many
responsibilities were being shed with kids finding their own way and jobs
winding down. Grandkids were our new passion and although we had little control,
the lessons of the past came through as we watched them emulate their parents
who had emulated us. Retirement and travel and the house on the lake and then
after 10 glorious years in retirement, God took her home and for a while I
struggled with that but time and faith, heals souls and hearts everyday and
they did for me too.
Today at the start of that last quarter my loving friend and
I are enjoying the Florida sun and taking life one day at a time. We take
nothing for granted anymore but the fact that we are here to love and support
each other no matter what life brings. That the friends and family we have loved
and enjoyed along the way, have been the magic sauce in this time tested recipe
for life. For that I am truly grateful. Maya Angelou said and I quote, “Let gratitude be the pillow on which you
kneel to say your nightly prayer. And let faith be the bridge you build to
overcome evil and welcome good.”
Mike
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