In Between

Someone forwarded me one of those emails that circles around the world wide web the other day, and one part that really stuck out for me was, “You are loved when you are born. You will be loved when you die. In between, You have to manage!”

It is true. Everyone loves a newborn baby. We hug and kiss and cradle them. We speak words of love and encouragement to them. “Who’s a beautiful boy? You are a pretty girl! What a wonderful smile you have!” and so on. The same happens after we die. I have yet to do a funeral where the deceased is not made out to be Mother Teresa. “She was always there for you. He gave you the shirt off his back.”

Yes, arriving and leaving, we are lauded and applauded. Not always so much in between though. In between those two moments, we are often criticized, condemned, judged, and disparaged. I wonder why that is? Do you find it interesting that the two times we seem to be universally loved are the two times we have no control – when we are born and when we die. The rest of the time is up to us. We have control over how we live our lives - our “in between.”  

In His sermon on the mount, Jesus offers us some wisdom on how to live our “in between.” He reminds us, “If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much” (Luke 6:32-35)! 

We are all familiar with the verse, “You reap what you sow.” That comes from the KJV of Galatians 6:7, and actually reads, “…whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”  The NLT puts it this way, “You will always harvest what you plant” (Galatians 6:7). Yes, the harvest during our “in-between” depends upon what we plant. We have control over our “in between” and we should plant seeds of love, mercy, and forgiveness. And, the Bible reminds us, “Remember this – a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop” (2 Corinthians 9:6).

The apostle Paul encourages us to live lives that give glory to God. “…whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). So, during our “in between,” let us live as Christ lived. Love as Christ loved. When we do, we give glory to God. 

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want the nicest things ever said about me to be spoken only at my funeral. I would like my “in between” to give glory to God as well. That is up to us. As I said, we have no say in when we are born or when we die. Our “in between” is the only thing under our control. And Jesus told us, “The amount you give will determine the amount you get back” (Luke 6:38).         

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