To Life

Hayley is 18! For those who don't know, Hayley is my oldest grandchild. She is beautiful, talented and the apple of Grandpa's eye. We celebrated yesterday. We celebrated her life that she has lived thus far and we celebrated the promise of life to come.

What has she done thus far? I suppose, not a lot in the eyes of the world. But, for those of us who know her, she has done everything. I think back to the beginning. She changed our lives. Suddenly, I was a grandparent. Her Uncle became an Uncle. Her mother's life certainly did change. Some of the changes were easy and brought great joy -- and some of them were difficult. But, for better or worse, Haley was here and our lives will never be the same. She has grown -- not just in chronology but in maturity. I think back to the things that meant a lot to me. Holding her as a baby, taking care of her as a toddler, going to school talent shows and graduations. It was routine -- that's what life is -- but it was and is profound. Life is meant to be celebrated.

What is the bigger issue around this celebration of life. Well, just that. All life is meant to be celebrated. I mention Haley because she means so much to me. But, what about children starving in Darfur? What about the AIDs kids in Africa? What about the displaced people in Georgia? What about the people living in the mess of Iraq? What about the aborted children around the world? We (I) have become somewhat desensitized to death. The news screams out about this one dying of gunshot wounds, a fatal accident, a plane crash. I confess that I love "Law and Order" in all of it's spinoffs. All of them start with the fact that life is cheap and bad things happen to people. This is true, but isn't this why it is so important to celebrate life that we have? Isn't it important to stand for life at all times? Isn't this why we need to help where we can to preserve life?

God created us and breathed the breath of life into us. God celebrated life by saying our creation was very very good! God says that the shedding of innocent blood is among the most serious offenses that can be done. If we stand for and with God -- we need to take life seriously. Let's celebrate! Let's celebrate the life God gives us! Let's celebrate the life to come because of the gift of our Lord Jesus Christ! It is good to be alive.