I’ve been out of town this week visiting my grandmother with my siblings and mom. We’ve had a fun visit, and have in general enjoyed relaxing (though I have had school and work to do while we’re here). It’s kind of a tradition to come visit my grandmother in the spring, and we’ve played lots of card games, watched movies, and had fun in the kitchen together.
One thing I always appreciate about coming to visit my grandmother is getting to see some of her friends. All of them have known my mom since she was a little girl, and enjoy catching up with her and seeing me and my siblings. As they come and make their visits, I’m always fascinated to hear their stories. They might share interesting tidbits that they’ve learned recently, or share about their latest excursion to the next town, or brag about something their grandchildren did. Consistently, however, they are full of life, even though they are in their late 70s and early 80s.
As I listen to their stories, I’m struck with how full their lives have been. They are not all world travelers (though one lady still travels the globe over with her husband on missions trips), they are not famous authors (though one is an English teacher and makes me want to read every book she describes), nor are they important people of business, prestige, or recognition. In spite of this, they have lived fully, engaging in all that life has had to offer, and as a result have stories and wisdom to share that only age can give.
Many of my grandmother’s friends have come to visit this week, and as I think about the time spent with them, I have to wonder what stories my generation will tell when we are their age. We have not lived through a depression or world war, and for the most part we have lived in a vast age of opportunity because of the way paved before us. But what are we doing? Will we come to the later stages of our lives and look back on this time of golden opportunity with regret?
I have been challenged anew this week to purposefully engage in what is going on around me. Everything that comes into my life is a contributing factor in the story of which I get to be a part. I want to seize the opportunities to live well, and to live fully.