Not Being.

I do not remember if I ever thought before about not being.

Life in Haiti reminds me often of the privileged location and family of my birth. Picturing my life being born in a hut is not hard when surrounded by lives like mine could of been.   Learning history and current events with Eli and Anna remind me to be thankful of my Christian heritage and the benefits, advances in science and technology that bless my life.

A poster from National Geographic pointing out what a small percentage of the world enjoys access to improved sanitation, education, literacy, phones, internet, personal computers along with looking at the lives around me help me easily count my blessings.

But today's reminder in church about how only by the grace of God each of us could gather to praise and worship Him layered on the knowledge that today in the USA many churches remember the millions of aborted lives made me consider...not being.

I'm grateful for life. I'm grateful that my folks always wanted me and did their best to raise me and provide for my needs. I'm thankful to have a chance to make my corner of the world a better place. Yes, I've made mistakes but the Lord can turn those into miracles.

One life touches so many others in so many ways. Without my life my children would not exist. I pray that the ripples that my life and faith created by interacting with others made life better by reflecting my Lord's love. How would other's lives be different without my life? My family, my classmates, my roommates, my patients, my friends, my neighbors.......

I am very thankful for the life I have been given. I pray that I can continue to grow in the Lord and impact more lives positively in the time that remains.

I pray for the lives that other's judge as being expendable: abortion, murder, hastening end of life, withholding care, neglect.... Lord forgive me for treating others as below me. Remind me that they too, every person remains precious in Your sight. Thank you for making me, ME.