It All Goes Back In The Box

I started reading a new book by John Ortberg titled 'When The Game Is Over, It All Goes Back In To The Box', that got me thinking again about how one lives their life and what is truly important. You see I say again because as Epictetus wrote, "This is our predicament. Over and over again, we lose sight of what is important and what isn't."

Last week-end my family gathered where my folks live and celebrated the fact that this year they will celebrate 80 years of life and 60 years of love. Over 90 family members came together for this event, and to honor their life accomplishment. As we gathered and celebrated what became very clear to me was what really mattered after 60 years of marriage was that they still loved each other as much as when they first said 'I do.' That they stayed together and kept loving each other was what mattered most.

You see, you can gather all that this world has to offer. Money, property, pleasures, power, health, accomplishments, compliments, security, whatever you can imagine; but in the end, when it is all over, the only thing that will last is your love - your love for God and others. The only things that will last forever is God, your relationships, your soul, and your deeds of love. That's it! Everything else goes back in the box! I wrote a a few months ago that this life is but a dash, and we are to live it wisely. If you really want to be wealthy and leave a legacy that matters - learn to love! Love God and love others; never forgetting you make a living by what you get and a life by what you give. Give love and be rich toward God.

PJ