I want to start out tonight by saying thank you for the overwhelming support and prayers after Monday’s post.
I was truly so moved by your kindness and genuine compassion, it is a humbling thing. The friendships that I have made through this blog are such a blessing in my life, so thank you for being there for me and this situation.
I’ve been having a lot of deep conversations as a result of everything going on, and the thing that has come up in just about every conversation is that everyone – every single person – has dealt with sorrow. Or grief. Or loss. Everyone. It is an inescapable shadow that touches the lives of every person on this earth, in one form or another.
It is something you’re never prepared for. It’s never at an opportune time. It’s never “light” or “manageable.” It hits like a sack of bricks. And then unearthing yourself from the rubble is no easy feat.
And the thing is, when you’re the loved one of someone going through it, you can’t remove the bricks for them. That unearthing process is a solo activity. It must be done by the person themself. Which, as a loved one, tugs at the heart, because you want nothing more than to rescue that person from underneath such a heavy weight.
I was having a conversation with my mom yesterday. And one thing she mentioned to me was that, no matter what, we feel our time on this earth is never enough. It never is. Losing a person we love, we feel robbed of time we should have had with them in the future. It’s unfair. We feel cheated. Denied of precious time we should be having together.
One thing she reminded me, was that life, in fact, is a gift. And any time at all that we are granted with a person in this life is something to be celebrated. Because it is a gift.
At the end of the day, we are all just passing through this life. This is not our home.
We were not made for earth, but rather for Heaven.
Our earthly bodies: they fail, we feel pain, they are not everlasting…because earth is not our home.
We were created for Heaven. *That* is our true home.
Our home where we will find peace. Where we will be united with Jesus and God. Where there will be no more pain, no more suffering, no more strife.
We will be home.
Our eternal home.
These moments that we have with one another here on this earth, they are beautiful. They are gifts from God, who blesses us with that time, with that joy, with glimpses of Him through that person.
Because isn’t that the truth? Every person reveals a glimpse of the Father. A different aspect of His love for us: be it His playfulness, His compassion, His loyalty, His joviality, His generosity, His love for others, His strength and fortitude.
Each person shows us a glimpse of the Father’s heart. And reveals different characteristics of His love for us.
That doesn’t take away the pain. That doesn’t lessen that feeling of anger or feeling that it’s too soon. But it does allow us to look at the time we do have, as a gift in itself.
And this is the last thing. Speaking of gifts, the paradise we are going to – Heaven – is a gift in itself.
Where we will be reunited with loved ones. Where we will be in a glorified, redeemed state – free from pain and suffering. Where we will be together with our Maker. Together with Jesus, whose light will illuminate Heaven.
That is a gift. And what a time, as now: as we are approaching Easter and Jesus’ Passion and Resurrection, to truly reflect on the price that gift cost.
The price that we need only to look upon the Cross to see.
The priest at daily Mass closed his homily with this little phrase today, that I think fitting to also end my post the same: Thank you, Jesus, for eternal life.
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38 responses to “Life is a Gift”
Powerful! Did you slip into mental illness at all?
Thanks Noel – i’m not sure if you’re referring to my bout with anorexia, but yes – I battled anorexia for several years in high school. Hugs and love xox
Life sucks from time to time, we face frustrations, struggles, heartache, pain among a myriad of other things – but on the flip side like you say it is a gift and one that we need to cherish, for we don’t know how long with have here on earth – so let’s make it count for something and bring Him glory!
thank you friend. amen to that. Hugs and love xox
YES! AMEN! A beautiful word, as usual! Thank you!
thank you HJ! I appreciate it! Hugs and love xox
I’ve often thought that this life is so short, so temporary and that we belong elsewhere. Heaven with Jesus!
Amen to that, John – we belong in Heaven! so glad you stopped by. Hugs and love xox
Very nice post thank you so much
thank you friend. Hugs and love xox
I had a coworker whose wife died. At the funeral he delivered such a powerful eulogy. One thing he said I will always remember: “When a loved one dies, we tend to think about the time we won’t have with them in the future. I prefer to think about all the time I had with her in the past and I’m extremely grateful for that; truly blessed.”
Oh gosh, what a tragic situation. But wow – what a powerful eulogy. Something to remember for sure. thank you for sharing that, CG. Hugs and love xox
A.P. Carter wrote a song, and Albert E. Brumley arranged it, and it was published in over 40 hymnals. The first verse says
“This world is not my home, I’m just a passin’ through;
My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue.
The angels beckon me from Heaven’s open door;
And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.”
Indeed, we are pilgrims on this earth. Someone said “we are not human beings on a spiritual journey, we are spiritual beings on a human journey.” What happens to us down here prepares us for what is to come in heaven.
Stand strong and be of good courage.
“For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. ” Isaiah 41:3
Thanks Myron for this powerful response. Yes – pilgrims on this earth. What a true true thought. glad you stopped by. Hugs and love xox
It is the only thing we take back with us in that release…the understanding of unconditional love. We ‘live’ the conditional love down here, feeling its every bump and stumble. Seeing and feeling sadness so that we can truly appreciate the happiness when it comes, and on through the opposites of our many emotions. Love is the same. He gave us this journey so that we could see and understand Him and the love that He is by going through this ‘life’. It is indeed a gift beyond words ❤️ 🙏🏽 🦋
You’re so right about that, Mark. Thank you for sharing this powerful insight. means a lot. Hugs and love xox
I love your words “we are made for heaven” not earth. I find that deeply comforting somehow.
thank you Kate. I’m so glad you found it comforting. big hugs to you xoxo
Yes…life could be very challenging at times…but we just have to hug those challenges and face them.
Rn it’s been quite confusing for me, my school probably will get changed, probably not, offline session’s started, everyone’s goign, but i am here at home, because there is no point in going if my school is gonna Chang, ah, i am soo puzzled…
Great post btw!
Love
Aadya
💕
Dear Caralyn,
I first saw your excellent site almost 5 years ago, and I follow your blog posts. I wanted to send you this message now to let you know that I feel that your newest post is one of your very best; truly appreciated!
I wish you a really happy day now,
Paul Motwani.
oh my gosh, thank you so much Paul! That is so kind of you to say. I am truly touched. I appreciate your readership, my friend! Hugs and love xox
“Yesterday is History
Tomorrow is a mystery
Today is a gift; that’s why we call it the present.”
I’ve seen that quote in a number of movies and to be honest, its probably one of the few actual truths to come out of the film industry in the past few years.
Since you have been a bit vague in the details, I can only assume that you lost someone you loved or someone close to you lost someone he/she loved and is find hard to deal with the grief.
You are absolutely correct that in stating that everyone has dealt with this or know of someone dealing with this..
You might be dealing with something and feel the only way to get through is to shut yourself from the world or try to put a pause on life. There is no pause button on life. Once it starts, it runs its course.
When one person’s life has run its course, the others still move along. You can either go with the flow like a leaf on a stream or sink to the bottom like stone and never see the ocean.
Even though you might succeed in shutting out the world, there is one person you will never be able to hide from.. God.
It is like David said in his Psalms 139: 7-12.. “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,” Even the night shall be light about me; Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You.”
Caralyn you might be a Gorgeous Goddess among us mere mortals, but as long you are here, our journey on this earth is limited – our days are numbered. So the only piece of advise that I can suggest is,
“Look to this day. For yesterday is but a dream; and tomorrow is but a vision. For today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness; and every tomorrow, a vision of hope.”
[…] Life is a Gift […]
Thank you Tonya for the link up! Hugs and love xox
My wife and I were just having a discussion about heaven last night. As David wrote, “What can mere man do to me?” Indeed. Those of us who belong to Jesus should have no fear of what transpires on this fallen planet because we know a kingdom awaits our eternal souls that is beyond our imagination to envision. All glory to God!
“If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.” C.S. Lewis
Thank you for your insights! Praying that good comes out of the suffering.
Nothing is forever in this life, that’s just the way it is… I too am living in a time of change in my own life. There have been many losses in recent years. The closest last August was my brother and two years earlier my father. You will never learn to understand or fully accept these. In my heart, there is an empty space for everyone to leave, specially for my family members.
We can do nothing for these, and with losses we are forced to learn to live because they are part of life. The last few years have been difficult, but I think better times are waiting for me too.
[…] https://beautybeyondbones.com/2022/03/31/life-is-a-gift/ […]
thank you for the link up! Hugs and love xox
I linked this post to my blog:
https://tanssitytto.wordpress.com/2022/04/03/life-is-a-gift/ 😊
thank you Amar, I appreciate that. Hugs and love xox
Amen. May we continue to share that gift with others. It is certainly good news.
Great post. You are right, one day we will be in Heaven.
we really will be. what a hope and a comfort.
[…] Life is a Gift […]
thank you for the link up! Hugs and love xox