Thursday, May 21, 2009

Reflections on Life

At this stage of my life, I've come to realize that some of the dreams of my youth are not going to happen.

I'm not ever going to have hair like this ...

Or skin like this ...

Or stand 5'6" tall and look like this in a bikini ...

I'm not ever going to have nails like this ...

Or live in a house like this ...

Or drive a Ferrari ...

I'm never going to see the Himalayas ...

Or Africa ...

Or koala bears in Australia ...

And I know for a fact that I will never visit
here (not in this lifetime, anyway) ...

No, I will never experience any of these things ... but my life has been blessed with so much more.

I thank God for my parents, who are now 83 and 84, and still very active and healthy for their age. They live about an hour away from us and I talk to my mother every day, sometimes two or three times a day. We're blessed to be able to see them often, and they are very much a part of our lives and our granddaughter Avery's life.

Without a doubt, my greatest blessing in life is my husband. God was truly looking out for me that day many years ago when He arranged for us to be in the same place on the college campus at the same time.

We have a son and a daughter who are our pride and joy, and have been blessed with a precious granddaughter, Avery Grace, who just turned four last week.

Life is, indeed, good ... and as I contemplated the things I'll never experience, I realized how many wonderful things I have experienced in my lifetime.

I was going to list some of these things, like places I've been and things I've seen and done, but they all seem so trivial compared to what I consider the most beautiful and most memorable experience of my life: seeing the birth of our granddaughter. I wouldn't take anything for being there and seeing her sweet little face for the first time ... and seeing our daughter's radiant smile and our son-in-law's beaming face when they saw her for the first time. It's a wonder I didn't faint, I was so overcome with emotion and happiness, especially when I held her for the first time. I remember my first words to Avery were, "We're going to have so much fun together" ...

And Avery doesn't care if I have luxurious hair or perfect skin, or look good in a bikini, or live in a mansion and drive a Ferrari. I don't need these things to experience life to its fullest with my family. They love me just as I am ... and I thank the good Lord for them, and all the ways He has blessed my life.

10 comments:

Unknown said...

Oh Janie,
this is such a sweet post! You are blessed to have so much as most of us are.

Our family is the most important thing of all!

Julie @ Sweet Chaos said...

I'm choked up over your description of your granddaughter's birth. All of us should be so blessed. Or realize we're so blessed anyways...

Stacey said...

That is so sweet and so true. It's a true blessing when we realize all that we have.

southerninspiration said...

You are blessed to have such a perspective, and such rich relationships! And you are also blessed to have your gift of photography which WE are blessed to be able to enjoy!
Have a wonderful day!

Suzanne

Kitty Scraps said...

Amen! I feel the same way about my husband and family. I'm blessed beyond all reason and eternally grateful *smiles*

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Now, there's a lady with her priorities in order!

XO,

Sheila :-)

Deb said...

what a great post...you know I have to agree with you...family is top priority and everything that comes along with them are the bonuses....

Blondie's Journal said...

Janie,

This is so what I needed to hear right now. I worry that I don't look attractive enough for my husband anymore. I thought I would always be a fashion and grooming example for my daughters. I thought I would be the wife/mother/person that always had the perfectly clean house and a hot meal on the table every night. I thought by now I would be well travelled and well versed on all subjects from all my extensive reading... LOL! I should have made my own post. ;-D

But you made your point~you have experienced joy in your life that makes everything else trivial. And I feel that way too. I know I have the love of my family for just the way I am. And I will give credit where credit is due for raising beautiful children and having the precious gift of love from my husband.

Your post made me cry, but also think.

Bless you, Janie

xoxo
Jane

nikkicrumpet said...

Awww Janie I loved this post. And you are beautiful inside and out...and rich beyond measure...and really smart to recognize where your treasures truly come from!

Marjorie (Molly) Smith said...

So many people miss the greatest Blessing of their life by bemoaning what they don't have. Life is good and God is great. I learned from my Mom along time ago life is what you make of it.