Life’s Fruit
LIFE is a gift. Time, if not used tactfully, will diminish the joy of the gift. Why is this true? I can point a finger at our capitalistic culture and illumine how it has made us fat with a selfish and greedy appetite. Over time we grow discontent and dissatisfied, and the gift becomes a normality within life. For example, when was the last time you thanked YHWH for the air you breathe?
Another fact about gifts lies in our heart. The enjoyment of the gift is our choice. Our anticipation and appreciation of the gift is reduced to our expectation of the gift. Those things that are priceless, indispensable, and unique are cherished. While those things which are common, attainable, or expected induce feigned responses for the heart of the giver (which is just an eloquent justification of lying). Our volition opens the floodgates of gratitude which allows us to find pleasure in gifts freely given. That’s the essence of a gift or, more precisely, the method of how we should receive and respond to gifts.
The enjoyment of the gift is our choice.
A good friend of mine once asked, “If you woke up with everything you thanked YHWH for yesterday, what would you have today?” As I mulled over this question in my mind, conviction raged in my heart. For, I was forced to consider my ingratitude. Each day I awake and robotically go through my morning routine, I am given the option to either fill my heart with gratitude or complaint. If I am to partake in life responsibly, then my behavior must be active and not passive. I must mature to a cognizant maturity where I am responding to life, not reacting to the myriad vicissitudes. Everything in life is organized and determined by freewill. My thoughts, reactions, or endeavors are mine to make, even when influenced by outside factors. Therefore, to be grateful or to complain is to choose to participate in life positively or negatively.
I must mature to a cognizant maturity where I am responding to life, not reacting to the myriad vicissitudes.
Do we cherish how the sun’s rays warm our bodies with essential vitamins or do we complain about the heat and melt under our misery? Does the rain become an inconvenience which breeds impatience, or do we bask in God’s tranquil sovereignty? The voice of our parents and loved ones can be obnoxious and inflammatory at times, but have you ever considered that there are some humans who never hear their mother’s prayer or procure their father’s wisdom? For death has silenced them forever. The clothing on your body doesn’t possess a European or Italian name, but you are adequately clothed. You may not have specific, flavorful food, but your hunger is satiated. Do you ponder over the bad memories of the past day and night, or do you allow the joy of the good ones to give you reason to continue this pilgrimage of life? If you are reading this, consider the fact that you can read and comprehend. You, reader, are very, very blessed. For your blessings consist of more than materials, they are intangible as well. Therefore, the question that rises to the surface of our heart is, will we enjoy this gift of life each morning, with all its various nuances?
If we take a moment to count our blessings as YHWH calls the stars by name (Ps 147), we will not be able to ignore His grace which engulfs us all into a depthless abyss. And, if life is a gift, what is death?
“Should nature heed what we say of contentment no river would seek the sea, and no Winter would turn into Spring.”
