Good Things

I always wonder whether we recognize, truly recognize, the good things in life. These can be perfect; but they can also be the antithesis of perfect, but still, they can be good. As humans, we are wounded. As children of God, we are perfect. Even though we do not recognize this all the time. The most precious thing in life is our belonging to God, not the wealth we attain or the possessions we grab hold of.

Jesus invited and reminded us that our most important commandment, and therefore rule of life, is to love God. A very close second is to love others as ourselves. There is no cost to this, except giving up ego. As I wait for the traffic light to go green, I hand the person asking for help a five-dollar bill and get a toothless bless you or may God be with you. This is precious. This is one of the truly good things in life.

With the love we show individuals such as this, we demonstrate our love for God. God hears us when we love these people who are destitute, and when God stops to hear us, we are blessed with eternal Life and eternal, everlasting Love. With God’s Love, we can overcome anything.

I am a wounded creature for I am mortal. With God’s Love, I can overcome my woundedness. Physically, I suffer from Asthma and COPD. Although at times it is difficult to breathe, I am able to look beyond this mortal deficiency and continue to pray, to write, to serve God through being a Stephen Minister, a prayer minister, and the chaplain for the local Marine Corps League. With a little fortitude, I overcome my wounds and enjoy the good things God gives me.

My suffering opens my eyes, allowing me to see the suffering of others and try to help heal them as God heals me. God blesses me by sharing His Wisdom with me so that I may share it with others. This is a good thing!

I rarely ask for God to forgive me, because I know He always does and always will. But I do ask God for the Wisdom to forgive myself for my faults and failures. For by forgiving myself, I can see the perfect human being hiding behind the false façade others put up in defense. This is how I recognize others as children and God, which makes them my spiritual brothers and sisters. And this is the best good thing there is on earth.

©Russell Kendall Carter