Sometimes, life causes you to contemplate. This is an activity that I, personally engage in frequently. No one is immune to hard or difficult times. I know that I have experienced a few. Yet, they seem so trivial compared to some.

I’ve been thinking about life recently. There are many things in this life that I find hard to explain.

Friends that have lost loved ones way too soon. My daughter-in-law’s cancer, a friend’s husband, falling asleep driving, crashing and as a result has numerous injuries, a young man that I worked with has gone through chemo and radiation for brain cancer and now, has an additional tumor on his brain. The new treatment has left him with no mobility, a classmate experiencing a stroke while camping and his life will never be the same. These are just to name a few.

Some people ask “why?”. Some, take what they have been given and deal with it with such courage and optimism.

Jesus said that in this life we would have trouble. There is much trouble in this world. I am appalled at what goes on in our country politically. It seems that those who are underhanded always win. I am disturbed that people think killing an unborn child is their right. They have changed the wording from killing (murdering)an unborn child to abortion and now to reproductive health. There is nothing healthy about abortion. It is not good for the woman or the child. It has devastating effects on the mother.

As some are dealing with sickness and loss, doing their best to survive. Political candidates are using babies as a bargaining chip for more votes. Rather than finding better funding and ways for couples with the inability to birth their own children to adopt. They would rather kill these precious little ones. Why is this not a crime? Abortion is big business. Don’t for a second think that the politicians pushing it, think it’s better for you. They get big money for themselves. My own state has the most radical abortion rights in the country. This saddens me beyond measure.

These are things that cause pain in my heart. Yet, I am not without hope. Hope in humankind? No. Hope in the Everlasting God. He never said that He would take us out of the evil of this world, but that He would be with us through it.

I have the hope that even though I feel that this world will continue on a downward spiral, there is The One that will give me strength to carry on until He feels I should be with Him.

In conclusion, I must realize that we are the “lucky ones” with every breath we take. Being grateful for all we have. Doing what God wants us to and loving our neighbors as ourselves.

Life is a gift.