(Well, I guess the title should be “Live Life to the Limit … after the quarantine has ended.”)
I still can’t help but feel blessed. Even though we’re still quarantined, last week’s reflection (Count Your Blessings) is still hitting me hard. Covid-19 continues to spread throughout the country; however, my for me and my family it is a welcomed break. My wife and I are working from home, my girls are going to school online, and we are all safe. I mean really … what more could I ask for? We’re actually all sitting on the couch and cracking up watching the Disney movie “Onward.” I’ve got a glass of Basil Hayden in my hand, my wife at my side, and my girls with me. Life can’t get much better than this.
Life Isn’t All Sunshine and Rainbows
Even as good things are right now, this week did bring a few challenges my way. My grandmother passed on Wednesday and, because of the Coronavirus, there wasn’t really much of a funeral. Only 10 people were allowed in the funeral home, there were no hugs or handshakes, and I was forced to watch the burial from my car.
As I sat there watching her casket being moved from the hearse to the grave I realized that I really didn’t know much about my grandmother at all. I have no idea where she worked, what her profession was, where she went to school, what city she was from … I honestly don’t know anything. I have brief memories of visiting her house when I was little, her warm smile, and a little giggle that she used to do when she laughed; but nothing else.
I continued to think.
What her goals were when she was younger? Did she accomplish them? Did she live the life she wanted to live? I guess I could ask the same thing about my grandpa who passed away about a decade earlier. Again, I have no idea what the answer is.
My dad mentioned before the funeral that even though she dealt with many significant hardships, such as the loss of sight and dealing with dementia, he never heard her complain. I’d have to say that’s true; but I wonder if on the inside she was satisfied with how her life turned out?
I wonder the same thing for my mom and dad, my brothers and sisters, and for myself. When I come to the end, will I be satisfied with everything I have accomplished and how I chose to live my life? Have I pursued what God wanted me to pursue? Have I served others?
Have I lived life to the limit?
Goodbye Little Joe. Thank You for the Life Lesson.
I’m really too young to remember much about Michael Landon. I watched reruns of Little House on the Prairie when I was younger, Bonanza on snow days while sitting in my dad’s barber shop, and Highway to Heaven with my parents (possibly as episodes were released!).
I was only 9 years old when Michael Landon passed so I can’t remember much; but I do remember an interview I read about him in People Magazine and the following quote he left for us:
Someone should tell us, right at the start of our lives, that we’re dying. Then we might live life to the limit. Do it! I say. Whatever you want to do, do it now! There are only so many tomorrows.
– Michael Landon
Like so many of us, I have a bad habit of putting things off to the future. Life requires so much effort and energy that I often lose focus on what is truly important. As a result, my bucket list continues to grow and my time left on Earth gets shorter with each passing day. Then every now and then life smacks me in the face and reminds me of something I learned from Michael Landon:
“There are only so many tomorrows.”
How true is that? Life can change in an instant, and it often does. (Just think of how different was the world just a few short weeks ago). So the question to myself (and to you) is this: If your life ended tomorrow, would you be proud of the life you lived?
Am I (Are You) Living Life to the Limit?
This is certainly something that I’ll have to contemplate over the next few weeks. Life has removed distractions and given us all an opportunity to stop and reflect. I’ll put that on next week’s to do list. For now, I’m going to spend a few more days being present with my family and thanking God for all He has given us. Which reminds me …
Happy Easter!
– Bo Burkett