Time to reflect

This past week I've been given the opportunity to see my family over seas that I haven't seen in several years.  Unfortunately life has taken us to very different parts of the world.  I particularly have enjoyed seeing my only living grandfather who is going to be ninety years old.  He is still at his age full of life and most importantly always happy with a smile on his face.  I believe his longevity is due to his happiness.  He's been this way for as long as I can remember.

Most people have a certain concept of what happiness is, some think they can only achieve happiness by their professional, financial success while others place their joy in the dependence of others.  I believe that none of this will ever bring fulfillment.

I've spoken to a lot of people of how true joy cannot be achieved without a true personal relationship with Christ.  I say this not from theory but from a life experience.  I've been in the position of trying to find happiness by relying on others for it and yet I was unfulfilled.  Only on my journey to allow God to reveal to me what He wanted for my life was I able to be joyful.  I'm not saying that I'm joyful during difficult times in my life but my outlook on those problems have changed because I know that I feel fulfillment by knowing that God is in control even when I'm not in control of certain situations.

I know without a shadow of a doubt that whatever few achievements I have received in my life have come by opportunities that God has given me and not by my own capability.  Even thou I am happy for those opportunities they are so small in comparison to the things I value most.  My joy comes by enjoying those things that I've once have taken for granted.  I enjoy the time I have with my family which is time that has an expiration one day, I enjoy the true friends I have and the beauty of nature.  I am thankful for this outlook because I know it was a mind frame that God has created in me.  It certainly isn't something I created myself because I can still recall the selfish days of my past.

Life needs to be lived with love towards all those and all things that God has so graciously provided for us.  Because without it  life is unfulfilling.