Don’t cry because it is over.  Smile because it happened.  …Dr. Suess

The above statement penned by Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Suess) speaks volumes in its simplicity and is one of which I need to constantly remind myself. Maybe some of you can relate to this blog.

We are quickly approaching our country’s  Independence Day which is cause to be grateful for our great country and all the freedoms we enjoy. l know I enjoy it more than I did earlier in my life and here is why.

When I was teaching, I always got a little jolt in the pit of my stomach on July 4^th.  This meant the summer was half over and I had not even come close to doing all the things I had set out to do when summer began.  It also meant that my somewhat carefree days were coming to an end for another year. It would be back to the old grind again. I would have trouble enjoying the rest of summer because I was always reluctantly counting the days until I was back at work. What a sad waste of time that was. Time I will never get back.

I should have been grateful I had the summer off to start with and had this time to get projects done, enjoy free time with my daughter and travel to see my family, spending leisurely time with them instead of the rushed two or three day visits, but I couldn’t seem to see it that way. I took all the positives I had in my life for granted.  I should have been grateful I had a warm house in which to live, a job to go to and a working car to get me there. I was focusing on the negative things instead of appreciating all my blessings.

Now that I’m retired, I have been a bit better about enjoying each day more and not dreading that it will soon be over and then what.  Ecclesiastes 6:9 tells us to Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don’t have.

What we do know about the future however, is there is a place in heaven waiting for each and everyone of us if we believe in our God of unconditional love who gave His Son to die so we may have eternal life. Now that’s something for which to look forward.

Let’s enjoy July 4^th and all of our days ahead. We don’t know what our earthly future holds but we do know we have an awesome eternal life to die for. Thanks be to God!

Patty