Life is Short

Today as I watched my grandson play fall baseball, I thought, "Life is short."  I remember the day he was born.  I witness the first showing of his hair before he ever took a breath.  It seems like only yesterday but I know many days have passed since then.  But as I watched him play ball, that was not all I remembered.

I remembered his mother standing on first base (just like he was) making the catches and getting the outs.  I remembered her at the plate hitting the ball with a great big "umph" sound escaping her lips as the ball soared.  There I was standing to see her just like I stood every time Tristan was at bat today.  But that was not all.

My mind saw my youngest brother out there on the field.  He loved the game and played hard.  I was 12 years older than he and enjoyed watching him as if he were mine.  Sometimes I treated him like he was with my mothering over the years.  Yes a baseball game can bring back memories.

If the field were life then I have rounded third and am headed toward home.  I so desire to run this last length of life well.  The first three bases didn't seem like they took me very long.  Life is short.  So I know this last length of time will go by quickly.  What will make this run to home the most memorable for those still running the bases?  The answer is this...the more I look like Jesus the more they will remember.  The more I strive to follow hard after HIM, the more they will be pointed to HIS grace and mercy.

Every rounding of the bases is about God and His Glory being made known.  I am running now toward home where I will be safe for eternity with my Lord and Savior.  I need to make this run count for His Glory.  This run could go on for a long time yet and I cannot grow weary.  So in order to run I will remember that every moment is precious because "Life is short"... "making the best use of the time, because the days are evil." Ephesians 5:16   

I also need to remember that I do not run alone, the Holy Spirit is within me and the brothers and sisters in Christ are also running beside me and God has planned my race..."Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."  Hebrews 12:1-2

Life may be short but I still have a lot of running to do in it!!  May God be glorified as I run.