Friday, May 28, 2010

Life in Retrospect

There is not much in common between a 21 year old and an 84 year old. Especially when it comes to LIFE. To an 84 year old, life is viewed in retrospect. They talk about the good times, the simple years and easily share a plethora of memories. A 21 year old, is always talking about what’s to come, the next adventure, the next big thing. But in reality we are mirror images, the 84 year old was once 21, and the 21 year old will hopefully one day be 84. So what’s the point? Well... today I got the opportunity to have a wonderful conversation with my brilliant 84 year old grandfather. He is quite the character. A prankster by nature, the life of the party and an extremely determined man. But today he asked me a very serious question..."How would you rate your life?" He followed the question with..."It doesn't matter what it is, what matters is that you know you are loved. Because love is everything" I know his response might sound like a cliché, but my grandfather is not the lovey-dovey type. As he was speaking it hit me! He is living life in retrospect. He has 84 years to look back on, and it doesn't matter if they were good or bad. LOVE is what sticks out. LOVE is what made him strong and he wants me to know that. To be honest I don't think I will ever forget that conversation with him. The conversation that changed not only how I view my grandfather, but also how I view life. I hope that when I am 84 I can share the exact same thing with my grandchildren because I want to live a life, which is not measured by success or failure. I want to live a life measured in love.
                           
   My grandfather with the love of his life my grandmother. 59 years of marriage.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8

1 comment:

  1. That's so neat! We focus so much on not failing and living materially when we forget that love is what we have to live for. You obviously were raised well :) Love you girl!

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