Life is Fragile. Handle with Care.
We’ve all seen packages that say, “Fragile, handle with care”. Usually it’s because something inside is obviously fragile, breakable, or perhaps valuable. I look at our lives in this way.
Recently, I was driving along I-10 through Louisiana. I was on my way to Florida to visit my daughter who was attending college there. As I made my way through Baton Rouge, I came to a very bad traffic jam. It was the kind that stretches for miles. Traffic was stop and go for what seemed to be forever. As I made my way across the bridge over the Mississippi River, with traffic finally starting to move again, the vehicle in front of me suddenly slammed on their brakes hard. I could not avoid the vehicle in front of me. I had to make a split second decision whether to rear-end the vehicle in front of me or try to swerve into the lane next to me, which also had traffic. An accident was unavoidable. As I attempted to swerve to miss the vehicle in front, I entered the lane next to me but was unable to avoid the vehicle. The whole situation could have been a very bad accident, with my entire family in the car. Fortunately, I was able to get out of the ordeal with no injuries and only some damage to my vehicle. The Lord is so good and gracious to me. It could have been worse.
Each week, as I travel along I-35 to work, it seems I see at least one serious accident. Many of them involve overturned trucks. This brings me to a couple thoughts. First, we are not guaranteed tomorrow. God is not required to give us next year, next month, or next week. When you think about what God has given us today, it should cause us to be thankful.
“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” - Ephesians 5:20
Are you thankful daily for what the Lord has blessed your with? Every time you draw a breath, every time your heart beats, every time you can open your eyes, it is a blessing from God. Thank you, Lord, for blessing me with THIS day. I’m thankful for the time He has given me and hopefully, I will learn to use it wisely.
“Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” - Ephesians 5:16
This brings me to my second thought. Since we are not guaranteed time by God, what we intend to do, we should begin now.
Do you want to be a better parent? Start now. How about a better husband or wife? Start now. How about treating others with kindness and love? Start now. Should you become a better employee? Start now. Do you need to begin to live according to God’s Word? Then start right now. What’s past is past, but you have the opportunity to seek forgiveness where necessary. Turn and start fresh right now, this very second. You can begin anew, and turn from whatever is causing you harm. Time is fleeting, so I would encourage you to begin now what you know to be good and right. May God bless you.
Jim Syers – Bus Director for Calvary Baptist Church
