Cigarettes and a Lottery Ticket…..

I ran to the grocery store for a few remaining ingredients for entertaining last week and got into the express lane at the grocery. At our grocery, one of the express lanes doubles as the tobacco isle. So it was on this day that I am behind a sweet looking older gentleman buying cigarettes. As an ex-smoker, I always pscho-analyze smokers to reinforce to myself why I quit – less wrinkles on face, no cough, saving money, etc. After I paid for my few items, I saw the same sweet old man in line for a lotto ticket. Because this time of year is one caught to reflection, I began to ponder that old man, his smile and his purchases in consideration to where I am in life.

1. Each decision you make, no matter how small, can have a lasting affect on your life. It might only be one purchase, but cigarettes can have a long term effect. The food purchases I make, the food habits I’m teaching to my kids, how often I exercise, how often I dye my hair – these decisions can affect me down the road for the better or the worse. After getting chronically sick from Lyme, I no longer take anything for granted (well, I hope the percentage is much lower now – no one is perfect, but I am working toward that end). Each little moment I get is a gift, no matter how exhausted or pain ridden my body, each breath is a gift. Each decision I make needs to be intentional, not lackadaisical or flighty or flippant.

2. I only get one chance at this life. It is not random like the lotto. Its not win some and lose some. My breath is a gift from the Life Maker – God. It is no random act, but an intent to give me the opportunity to make a difference and do something. It doesn’t have to be big, it just has to be big from me to Him. To quote something I say to my kids all the time – it needs to be not Halfway Herbert (Francis Chan’s book Halfway Herbet). It needs to be from my all. Its not how big, its how much of my heart and time I will invest and let God do something fantastic with it.

3. Life is not fair, but eternity is fair. In this earthly life it seems that some are winners and some are not. It seems like a game of chance that one or two people win big. It seems like a gamble each and every day – a car wreck here, an aneurysm there, Lyme disease here, cancer there. This side of heaven we don’t get to see who wins the power ball, but in eternity all of it will make sense, all our faith, hope and exercises of love will matter.

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:1-4)

Blessing and healing to you in 2014,

Janice

Read my new book- http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/JustLivingLikeThisWithLyme

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/justlivinglikethiswithLYME
Blog – https://justlivinglikethiswithlyme.com/my-blog/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/janicewithlyme
Pintrest – http://www.pinterest.com/jpfairbairn/just-living-like-this-with-lyme/