La Bella Vita

As a Christian, Heaven is the thing that I am most looking forward to. I can't wait to be with my Jesus forever….in a perfect place…praising His name without guilt and shame and sin.

But if Heaven was what everything was about wouldn't He just take us there without allowing us to live on Earth at all? 

He didn't do that. He gave us life. Life on Earth in imperfect human bodies. And I know that it can break your heart. I have days filled with anger and ungratefulness and disappointment. 

But honestly? I love life. Yes, I'm naive. Yes I get really pumped about flowers and notice the way people laugh. I stand in the rain sometimes. I cry at weddings. I'm a big daydreaming sap. But it's true. I don't care what you say. I believe life to be beautiful. Amidst all the pain and suffering I believe God has a purpose. Not just for you and me but for the homeless man on the corner and the jerk at your office and the person who hurt you and didn't apologize. Otherwise He would have just taken us to Heaven and skipped life on Earth all together. 

But He didn't. 

He put us here for a reason and even in the hard times I choose to trust Him. I choose to see the beauty in the everyday. I choose to love when I want to hate and extend grace when I want to be selfish. 

I need to be reminded of this on days like today...