Day 29 - Part 1 Living Life to the Full Say Yes to Life

Say yes to life whenever you can.

Life comes knocking at your door each and every day, offering you the gifts for that day. They are not always the gifts we want, but they are the ones most needed.

You have a choice as to what you do when you hear that knock or hear the buzzer. You can stay inside and pretend you can’t hear it and hope Life will walk away so that you can then get on with all the other things you planned.

Alternatively, you can go to the door and open it a smidgen and talk to her through the crack. Life might try and hold a conversation with you, but often she knows that you’re really not open or willing to let her in, and so she wishes you a good day and then goes on her way.

You might be someone who throws the door of your home wide open, yet still insists that Life remains on the doorstep. You enjoy the debate with her, but that is where it must remain, as a theoretical discussion that is never allowed into your lounge.

You may be someone who loves all that Life offers and invites her in, gives her a cup of tea and a slice of cake and enjoys hearing all she longs to share with you. However, you are a busy person and after a short time, you make it obvious that you’ve given life long enough and now must return to your chores and every other important thing that needs doing.

Then there are those who say that Life can stay a few days and even have her own room. However, they feel uneasy and awkward in their own home for they believe that they must always be on their best behaviour around her. Deep down they like the idea of having the honour of life living with them, but they too are a little afraid of what she will bring and how she will affect their life and the lives of their family. So gradually over time, they bring Life her meals in her room and she’s invited less and less into the life of the family. She is kept at a distance, because they are not really open to receiving all she might bring which will mean them changing their lives.

Finally, there are those who know that Life is one of the most precious of guests who cannot help but bring new and wonderful things, for that is who she is. Yes, they are scared and a little worried about some of the changes she might ask them to make. But they trust her, knowing that whatever she suggests is only ever to make their lives fuller, richer and more colourful. They know that whenever she comes, she brings change, but that change is always intended to bless and not to harm.

However, it is only those who have come to know Life well and trust her who recognise that she never brings suffering for suffering’s sake. Hidden within anything she brings must be life and life to the full. For that is Life’s DNA which cannot be altered. Ultimately Life is about learning to grow in Love and Love is God and when one embraces one, one too embraces the others.

So, do not be afraid of Life. Take risks and let her live fully within the home of your heart and rejoice that she has chosen to knock at your door and wants to be an intimate part of your life.

How well do you embrace Life most days? How far into the home of your heart do you invite her in?

What holds you back from inviting her in further?

What do you hope for from Life?

What do you fear about Life?

What is one thing that you can do to say “Yes” to life and live it more fully?