Near the end of the movie “Little Big Man” (one of my favorites) the Indian chief who is “grandfather” to Little Big Man prepares for his own death. Wrapped in his burial cape and standing on a mountaintop he speaks to God thanking Him for all that the chief has been through. “Thank you for my victories, and thank you for my defeats,” are some of the words he says.
I have always found that moment in the film to be very moving, and I have felt that the chief’s prayer is one that every Christian should have. It is easy to thank God for all the good things that happen in life. It is easy to appreciate happy times.
But we need to learn to appreciate (appreciate – not enjoy) the difficult times in life. It takes all times, good and bad, to make a life complete. It takes happiness and sadness, laughter and tears to make all of life a whole life. The first 8 verses of Ecclesiastes 3 express all the elements of what makes up a life.
As much as we want a lifetime of happiness, a life of nothing but ease is no life at all. Without hardships and challenges we only see part of life. It takes both happiness and sorrow to make a life complete.
I find it interesting that scar tissue skin is stronger than skin that has not healed. I feel the same is true of our spiritual life. Overcoming hardships and challenges gives us strength, teaches us lessons, and makes us better people.
And, although it is cause for sorrow, the loss of a loved one is a natural order of things. We must look at the life that has ended and appreciate all that has been experienced.
Just as in nature old plants must die to the world, be buried, so that they may give life to new plants growing in the next season, so also each of us must come to the end of our time. We yield to those who follow, offering our experience and wisdom, our blessings and instruction, in the hopes that the next life will be better.
DAILY CHALLENGE: What is the most recent challenge you have faced? What have you gained from that experience?
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