One More Day, One More Month, One More Year

“A Christmas Story” has become a favorite holiday movie for so many of us over the years. It may be because we all can identify with Ralphie and his obsession of convincing everyone that there is nothing more perfect for him for Christmas than a Red Ryder BB gun! (“You’ll shoot your eye out, kid!”)

We have spent countless hours as children, and maybe even as adults, dreaming of waking up on Christmas morning, snow falling from the sky, a warm fire in the fireplace, hot chocolate being poured into Christmas mugs, and that one perfect gift that Santa couldn’t resist bringing…even if you might shoot your eye out, kid.

I have had some of the most amazing Christmases a girl could ask for but nothing has compared to the gift I have been blessed with this year. This year, I received my proverbial “Red Ryder BB gun.”

It’s more of a realization, actually.

I’ve had this gift for 50 years, but I just now comprehend what a gift it truly is and I appreciate it more now than ever.

I am grateful for the fact that I still have both of my parents here with me.

My parents are truly special people. They are so much fun and exciting! They live life to the fullest and invite others to be a part of that. They have not only loved and encouraged my brother and me growing up, but they have touched so many lives with their love, hospitality, and generosity.  

They have worked hard to teach us to love God and love others. They live it out, not in word only, but by example as well. They love deeply and you can see and feel the light of Jesus from them!

They will never see that in themselves. They think they are just every day, average people and that there is nothing special about them. But they are wrong. They are much more.

Over the past few years, both of them, now in their 70s, have faced many health issues that have opened doors for the “hard” conversations that are heart wrenching, but sometimes necessary. My mom had one of these conversations just a couple of years ago where she stated that with their health issues that there is a real possibility that they wouldn’t be here in 10 years.

Wait, what? “You can’t say that! You don’t know that!” My reply came out at a higher pitch than I intended it to but the reality of it all began to seep into the depths of my bones. With solemn dread in the pit of my stomach, we had the hard conversation that includes facing facts you just aren’t ready to talk about.

I wasn’t ready. I am still not ready. I never will be.

We live with the knowledge that we all face death. Unless Jesus comes back first, we will die and leave this world. But until you stare that in the face, it just somehow simmers on the back burner of your mind.

After that conversation with my mom, every health issue, every surgery, every emergency room health scare, I found myself deep in prayer, ”God, I trust You and Your will in this, but I’m asking for one more day, one more month, one more year… IF it be Your will.”

I pray it. I put my hope in it. But the truth remains that God’s ways are higher than my ways, His thoughts are higher than my thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). And honestly, who am I to deny the day that they get to go home to Heaven and to be in His presence forever? But I’m still not ready.

No one, NOT ONE of us is promised one more day, one more month, or one more year. We can ask, we can pray, but time is short and we must make the most of every day!

I’m grateful for the gift of the realization that I have had the “Red Rider BB gun” of gifts all along in my parents; but I’m more grateful that I know that they have put their faith and trust in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

John 3:16 states, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Romans 10:9-10. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

Now my parents live literally 40 feet from my house. I am able to see them and talk to them anytime I want by simply walking out the back door and I will cherish this time forever. I will not take this for granted again. I am grateful that God brought this to my attention this Christmas.

We aren’t promised one more day, one more month, or one more year; but knowing that when our loved ones leave this earth that they will spend eternity in Heaven…

THAT…

That is truly the greatest gift of all.

Soli Deo Gloria

Meet the Blogger – Read Laura Robinson’s Bio