Dear Editor,
What keeps you living? Do you enjoy life? Are you happy for the opportunity to be in the world, breathe the air, see the beauty of God’s creation? Do you enjoy family, friends and daily life? What is your reason for living?
None of us chose to be born. We didn’t choose our parents or the geographical location of our birth. There are many other choices along the way we do not make. We don’t choose cancer, disabilities, wars, being the victims of crimes, drunk drivers and much more. We make choices about what we eat, activities, lifestyles, religion, attitude, vocation, residences, beliefs, how we treat others and more.
We often cannot control much of life. We can’t control the bad things that happen to other people. We are impacted by what happens to people we love. A sick spouse, parent or child greatly impact us and can be very stressful with many challenges. We do the best we can to offer as much love and support as possible. It’s never easy and wears on us. Every day presents new challenges and a flexible, positive attitude is essential for survival.
Children can bless or challenge. We can’t control what they do forever and so we usually go with the flow offering as much love and support as possible. We can’t take care of them forever. They have to live life when we are gone and so they need to start way before we are gone.
Our careers are often meaningful and give us something to do most of our lives. We have to work and it’s better if we enjoy our work. The opportunity to go to work every day is often a blessing many people miss until the work days are over.
We live for all kinds of reasons. We live for love, for family, for pleasure, for careers and for the enjoyment of life.
Lots of things in life can get us down. The loss of a career, the death of someone we love deeply. We miss a spouse, a parent, a child. We grieve the loss of a job. Sickness gets us down. Depression can come to any of us at any time of the day. We’ve all been there to some extent. None of us are immune to depression. We have all shed tears along the road of life and it’s nothing to be ashamed about. We suffer hurts, disappointments, failures, grief, death and much more. Not much is required to cause us grief, depression and disappointments. We are very fragile when it comes to downswings of life.
Thus, we have to know where our joy and upswings of life come from. Personally, where would I be or how could I survive without my faith? God has been my source and rock for most of my life. There have been times when I didn’t realize He was all I needed until He was all I had. There is an old song that asks the question, “Where would I be without the Lord?”
I also look around me and give thanks for this beautiful world. I don’t hate the world. Go made this beautiful place. We mess it up, but God gave us a beautiful place to live. I am fortunate in that I have a beautiful wife, children, grandchildren, siblings and friends whom I love very much. I enjoy my work and have hobbies that are still fun. These and the love of God keep me going and living.
What keeps you going? Who keeps you living? Think about it and keep living!
Dr. Glenn Mollette
