A Life Well Lived

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

"A great life is nothing more than a series of days well lived strung together like a string of pearls"

Robin S. Sharma

In the first chapter of Michael Medved’s book, The American Miracle: Divine Providence in the Rise of the Republic, the author describes with detail some of the events that led to the 50th anniversary of the United States of America as a country. 4th of July 1826 was fast approaching and of the original writers of the Declaration of Independence, only three were still alive. Former presidents of the United States John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were two of them.

Adams and Jefferson loved their country. They had worked tirelessly for its independence and establishment as a nation. Though well advanced in years, to live to the country's 50th anniversary was a dream and a determination for them. Living 600 miles apart, when the morning of July 4, 1826 dawned, friends and family of these men could see that both Adams and Jefferson’s lives were nearing the end. Realizing that it was July 4, John Adams expressed, satisfied, what a good day it was. It had been fifty years since him, Jefferson, and several others had written and signed the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America. It was a good day indeed.

Around noontime, when the bells were ringing in joyful celebration of the 50th anniversary of this young nation, Thomas Jefferson breathed his last breath. John Adams closed his eyes later that afternoon. Both dying on July 4th, 1826. Independence Day!

These great men had a profound love for their country. They had fought hard to help the nation gain independence and lived to see it grow and prosper for fifty years. They had great dreams and worked tirelessly to have their dreams fulfilled. When time came for them to rest from this world, they both expressed contentment over their life work. No regrets. Just peaceful content.

How wonderful it must be to reach the end of life, look back, and be satisfied with the path we took. To feel content with a life well lived is a great blessing.

How often, however, do we trap ourselves in the mundane tasks of daily living, focused on our limitations, busy schedules, possessions, unhealthy habits, problems, and everything that is negative? Chasing after happiness in the wrong places. Allowing distractions to imprison our attention. Living like this for days and years without hope of something better, eventually conforming to a mediocre life. A life that was never intended for us.

But we don’t have to be content with a mediocre life.

God promised us an abundant life. A life with purpose, rich, and blessed, where we can reach our full potential, fulfill our dreams, and make a difference for the better. It’s time to break free. Today! And begin living an abundant life. We may not fight for the independence of a new country, or become President of the United States, but we each have a different calling. An abundant life doesn’t mean we have to do great things that everyone sees and praises. More often than not, an abundant life happens from our daily decisions and choices in the small matters. In the time we give our loved ones. In the service of others. In being content with the calm. In sitting in front of our house to watch our children play and chat with the neighbors that pass by.

Choose an abundant life today. Choose a life with purpose, full of meaning, and joy. Then, when our time on earth is done, we can look back with no regrets. We can be satisfied with a life well lived, where we made the world a better place just by being it it.