Life Is Too Short

Life is too short. Yes, you’ve heard that many times, but it’s true. In my 40’s now that expression is coming alive and becoming a new dimension in my life. I catch myself saying it all the time. Not in the sense that the Bible uses it as in “Life is a vapor”, speaking just to the brevity of it, but more to the fact that life is too short to …just fill in the blanks. Here’s my short list:

Life is too short to carry a grudge. Life is too short to persuade people into almost anything. Too often they will resent you for it in the long run(unless you are persuading them with the Gospel). Life is too short to worry about what other people think. Most often they are not thinking of you at all and if they are, then their opinions are usually set in stone and it’s futile to try and change their minds. Live to please God and give people the freedom to feel how they want about you. Life is too short not to have a dog or a cat. Life is too short to invest a lot of time where you aren’t making a difference. Life is too short to chase purpose and significance in status, power and position. Is there a higher status job than President of the United States? Can you remember all of them? No matter how high up the ladder you get with all of your accomplishments and trophies, within 50 years of dying, all of it will be forgotten. Invest your time instead in your loved ones, your friends and family. Catching lightning bugs in a jar with your young son or daughter will bear more eternal impact than all of your plaques on the wall. Life is too short for hours upon hours of church meetings. Just walk across the street and invite your neighbor to church. Life is too short to feel hurt when someone lets you down. Life is too short not to give the benefit of the doubt. Life is too short to have a chip on your shoulder. Life is too short to deny yourself chocolate chip cookies dipped in milk. Life is too short not to give your kids hugs every day. Life is too short to schedule Monday morning appointments. Life is too short not to eat ice cream. Life is too short to let yesterday’s mistakes ruin today. Life is too short to not take naps on Sunday afternoon. Life is too short to watch most of reality TV. Life is too short to care about Jake and Vienna. Life is too short to live without Christ because eternity is a long, long time.