These are the great days

Yesterday, we spent the 4th of July at my parents. In the morning, Aurie and Alyssa were very eager to get going to Mamaw and Papaw's. They were going to be swimming with their cousins and less significant family members. As we were driving along, Aurie was telling me the names of those who had yet to physically see her jump off the diving board with her floatie. Alyssa, too, was rattling off her most recent pool accomplishments. They were excited.

It occurred to me that these are the great days of their lives. The time before stress. They are not worried about work, bills, schedules, school, etc. For them, it's all about having as much fun as possible. I can faintly remember the great days of my own life. It seems so distant now.

It felt good simply thinking about the day through the eyes of my girls. I remembered a pointed question Landon Saunders would often ask, "Are you any fun to be around?" The question is very provocative considering he asked it in the context of church people looking for answers as to why so many of their children were leaving the church.

I want to be fun to be around, not just for my kids, but for the adults too. So how do I get more fun to be around? Again, a quip from Landon is helpful, "Get over yourself!"

We, adults, have way too many issues. A few are unavoidable, but far too many are completely avoidable. If we could substitute a pound of entitlement for a pound of appreciation our lives could change. That ought to come easy to those who have been redeemed by the Lord.

I am making a commitment to resist the sense entitlement and live out of appreciation.

Now for some fun, check out these vintage CofC tracts -> here.