Life in a Nutshell

Life is hard. It’s tragic. It’s painful. But it’s also beautiful. And if we can just learn to receive it, it can be something amazing.

It’s the cry of a newborn. It’s the belch of a baby. It’s a dog licking your hand. It’s the breeze against your cheek. It’s sunburn from a day at the beach. It’s the smile of a sibling. It’s the laughter of a dear friend. It’s the arms of a parent around you. It’s the sense of accomplishment. It’s the generosity of a grandparent. It’s the kindness of a stranger. It’s the warmth of home. It’s the kiss of a lover.

It’s the cold of the rain. It’s the breaking of a glass. It’s the emptiness of loneliness. It’s the despair of hopelessness. It’s the uselessness of worthlessness. It’s the break-up of a relationship. It’s the sense of rejection. It’s the death of a loved one.

It’s the faith of God. It’s the companionship of Christ. It’s the breath of the Holy Spirit. It’s the sacrifice of service. It’s everything good and bad in the world wrapped into a single woven blanket of forgiveness. It’s what we take for granted and what we cherish each moment we stop to open our eyes.

We can believe we are being punished in our misfortunes, yet lavish ourselves with praise in our triumphs. We can curse bad luck, yet battle in preparation for opportunity. We can hate at the same time we love. We can long for a family, pine for a lover, hope for a chance, wish for a change, demand justice, kill in the name of life.

I have no great ambitions anymore but to love with every decent fiber of my being I have left. I wish only to recognize every blessing God bestows upon me at the moment He gives it. I alone cannot change the world. But with a lot of love, and a lot of help, I have faith I will create something good out of His blanket of forgiveness.

There is no call to action. Just listen and follow what moves in your heart. I know life will show you something amazing.