What will you do today to celebrate the first day of the rest of your life?
I attended a retirement celebration for my Daddy on Saturday. I have to say that it really was a treat. Is was a rather informal affair. An invitation went out over the internet inviting all who worked with him or had worked with him to meet at a bar-b-cue restaurant in Macon. We were happy to drive down and participate.
What I wasn’t prepared for were the sixty plus people who showed up to bid him farewell. The sheer number made me incredibly proud of him. Then there were the gifts and presentations. There were more than a few people who shed some tears. My heart swelled with love for him as grown men dabbed at their eyes.
Most all of them commented on how much they would miss his smile. He worked there for eighteen years. I think to be remembered for his smile is a really awesome testament to him.
The evening wound down and we went back to my parents’ house. When we were sitting at the pool the next day, Daddy came walking out in his swim suit. I was pretty shocked. He works on keeping the pool perfect for swimming all of the time, but he rarely swims. He’s always too busy. He has worked his entire life and relaxing has never been something he is good at.
Imagine my surprise when he grabbed a float and tossed it in the pool. When he got in and got on it I was speechless. (a fairly rare occurrence for me) Of course, I had to get the camera and snap some shots. When I finished, I told my mom how shocked I was.
She leaned over and told me, “I told him when he got up this morning that today was the first day of the rest of his life, that he better get up and start enjoying it and that he needed to put on his suit and come out to the pool.”
Those were wise words to be sure. We have all heard them before; but that doesn’t make them any less true. Everyday that we wake up and get out of bed is the first day of the rest of our lives. It’s a brand new chance to eat better, exercise, be a better spouse, be a better friend, call an old friend, spend more time with family, read the Bible or talk to God.
Every morning when we wake up, we have concrete proof that God is not finished with us yet. We have work to do and dreams to pursue.
New beginnings can be scary. We are starting a new school year this week. New jobs can be scary or new relationships. New chapters can be scary. But they can be exciting too and they can be fun.
Daddy’s zest for the first day of the rest of his life has inspired me to play more and smile more and not to be afraid to take the plunge, whatever that may be. The Bible tells us there is a time for everything.
I challenge you to say a prayer and find what your time is today and jump in. There’s no time like the present.
Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂
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