Sometimes the things which pleasure us most are the least noticed until they are removed from our lives. Water, fresh air, electricity, comfortable temperatures, sunshine, rain. When storms and turmoil rob us of these physical comforts, we tend to place higher value upon them than we do when we have them at our fingertips. When it is routine to have them without question, we hardly notice.
This can be true of relationships, also. Often we take for granted the smiles, the laughter, and the wit and wisdom of someone who is dear. We let a joy they give us go unrewarded. We fail to express gratitude, to reciprocate or acknowledge how much they mean to us. When we lose the familiarity of their smell, their touch, their presence, we are overwhelmed with regret and sadness. When I consider the people I've lost in my life: my son, my dad, and friends, I mourn their passing. No longer can I pick up the phone and call my dad and hear his voice and get his advice. No longer can I invite some friends over for tea and share troubles or celebrate achievement. No longer can I feel the bear-hugs and see the brilliant smile of my son as he talks about his little girls.
Loss limits happiness and leaves us with lingering desire to make amends, to call back the moments, to retrieve that which we cannot retrieve.
All the more reason to appreciate the constant presence, the unfailing steadfastness, the fullness of joy I have in the Lord.
"You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joys; At Your right hand are pleasures." Psalm 16:11
The path of life is filled with loss and gain. In the presence of Christ we have the fullness of life--we have His joy ...His peace... His goodness ...His mercy and grace. In Christ we sit and rest at the right hand of perfect pleasures. At His fingertips we experience enough... enough joy to strengthen, enough grace to meet each need. May we not take these for granted. selahV
