What will you choose?

My friend Maribeth knows about life and death.  Every day, life turns in her womb.  Active, living, tiny little Abbie Ann- safe inside her mother's warmth.  And yet, in the same breath that a birth plan is discussed- plan for a photographer, visits to the hospital- there's also the plan for furneral arrangements.  A real possibility, a real option, for Maribeth knows, sweet little Abbie is sick.  And everyday, Maribeth prays and pleads for life, while death has become real and tangible

For the rest of us, it's rare to think about death on a daily basis.  Bills, kids, schedules, ball games, fights with our spouse, church life consume our thoughts.  And yet, isn't our purpose supposed to spring from our perspective of life and death?  Does our behavior during our daily mundane activities reflect how we feel about life and death?

Are we aware that these little moments, strung together either with frustration or laughter, reflect our attitude about Eternity?

My friend, Dawn reminded me of this on Facebook the other day-

"Good and evil increase at compound interest. That is why the little decisions you and I make every day are of such infinite importance." (C.S. Lewis)

A word of encouragement to your child struggling in science= LIFE.

A word of frustration to your husband about a $2 coffee= DEATH.

Getting in the slow lane at Publix to talk to the 75 year old cashier= LIFE.

Grace given to the irritated co-worker=LIFE.

Maribeth sees all this now, clearly, sharply focused through the lense of a yet unborn, yet very loved baby girl.  I'm sure she struggles with the "what if's" and the "why us", but instead, I see eternity written on her face.  She knows "all things will be counted for good for those who are called according to His purpose".   

She sees the victory in the small battles- finding a better doctor, feeling the peace of God rest on her family, knowing that her Savior loves Abbie Ann more than she could ever fathom.

In Deuteronomy 30:19, we are reminded that life and death, blessing and cursing, are set before us as CHOICES.  In loving God, we have the ability to hand out life and death, blessing and cursing, to those around us. 

You see, we have to understand, like Maribeth now understands, that physical life and death are out of our control, but the things that are UNSEEN, the things that are ETERNAL, lay before us as at our bidding. 

It's in the little things, in the raw and honest moments of our own failings and battles, we can purpose to love, breathe life and gift a small piece of heaven to those we encounter everyday. . . it's our choice.

"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal".  (2 Cor. 4:18)