Bucket List...

Today when I logged onto msn.com I noticed that there was a photo with the caption, "Last Lecture Professor dies of cancer..." - for whatever reason, I clicked on the link and read the brief article. I had not previously heard of this gentleman or the video of his last lecture that become a You Tube phenomenon (10 million + hits).


When I was done reading the article I felt sad... I know that it was supposed to be inspirational, but I always feel sad when I see a photo of a beautiful family and one of the members has too prematurely been taken from this earth. Though I have not seen his You Tube video- perhaps I will check it out sometime- I noticed in the article that some of the things he had talked about were things he had hoped to accomplish in his life that he had, indeed, accomplished.... "being in zero gravity, writing an article in the World Book Encyclopedia and working with the Walt Disney Co." I began to think of my own mortality and what I would "do" or say, or wish to "accomplish" if I was given 6 months to live.


As I sat in deep reflection, I at first felt like a bit of a boring person. Because as I sat and thought - the truth, I realized, was that I don't have a "bucket list" - at least not in the traditional sense of the phrase. Deep sea diving? SKY diving? Touching all seven continents? Nope. Not really. Don't get me wrong. There are definitely things I would love to do throughout my life. Most revolve around traveling and getting involved in missions. But, when it comes down to it, the only thing that matters to me- the only thing I truly wish to accomplish in this life is to serve God, the very best I can, in the calling He has placed on my life... the calling He has given me to raise my children to not only be "Christians" but to LOVE our God and Savior - to be passionate about Him and for my children to want to love, honor and serve Christ throughout their lives.



That's it. That's my "bucket list." It's not something I can "cross off" on a piece of paper, not something I can "do" in an afternoon. It's a lifetime. It's a lifestyle. And it's the only thing that matters to me. When I die.... whether it be in 6 months or 60 years - that is what I want to have accomplished more than anything. I want to leave my children a legacy of true HOPE in life everlasting.



Don't get me wrong- I love the life God has given me right now. I love being a wife, a mother, a teacher, a sister, a daughter, a friend. I am grateful beyond measure for the blessings God has heaped upon us. I pray every day that God will protect the health and safety of myself and my loved ones because while I am on this earth, I couldn't bare to go a day without my husband or my children. And, of course, I SO badly want the opportunity to raise my children.

But the truth is, when it comes down to it- the life I live on this earth really is not about LIVING life on this earth- it's about the eternal life I seek in heaven. Because the day my life on earth ends will be the day that my life TRULY BEGINS. And more than anything, I want my children and my husband with me- and all of the people that I love so dearly.

So that is my "list," my friends. The one thing I want to achieve, more than anything... children who love God and who, in turn, raise their own children to love God. And it is my daily prayer that He will help me accomplish this, that every choice I make would help, and not hinder me towards reaching that goal... for it is only through His grace, His love, His guidance, His forgiveness and His mercy that we can accomplish anything that GREAT.