ARE WE LIVING OUR BEST LIFE?

ARE WE LIVING OUR BEST LIFE?

Eileen Renders

This is a topic that deserves a little time to reflect upon. In asking ourselves this question, there are a few variables to consider.  First of all, are we on the right track spiritually? Are we doing all we can to follow Christ and trust that we will be accepted into our heavenly and eternal home? Our spiritual health and maturity cannot be overlooked, as this life we now travel is a “testing ground.” Next, we might want to look at our emotional strength, our spirit, and ensure that we are doing all we can to remain in good grace with God. Planning to live our best life here requires us to remain in the state of grace, which we must take seriously by avoiding all people, persons, and places that have been a temptation to sin. Our free will is all that we have to help us avoid all occasions to sin.

Therefore, in selecting our friends, the people we “choose” to spend our time with should also be grounded in Christ. Having similar morals and values strengthens our determination to follow Christ, living as best we can in the manner in which He lived and died for us.

Reminding ourselves continually that we all have a relatively short time here on Earth. We have responsibilities, commitments, and more. Knowing that life is very short for many thousands, we cannot take one day for granted. Each day must be lived in the presence of Jesus Christ. Our choices and decisions determine how and where we spend our eternity!

No one knows the day or the hour when we will be taken from this world and held accountable for our sins. God knows that none of us is perfect, but we can attempt to imitate Christ to the best of our abilities. What does imitating Christ require that we do?

God is LOVE, mercy, and forgiveness! We need to pray, including rosaries, to increase our trust in Christ, love our neighbor as ourselves, and, for the love of God, show mercy and extend forgiveness. Being merciful requires sensitivity, empathy, and giving of ourselves, our time, our energy, our talents, and our money.

This life has its crosses we all must bear, as Christ did to save us from sin. Always, however, remember: We can never, regardless of how much we give, outdo Christ in His giving back to us.