I have a picture of my mom and dad on my credenza and as I came into my office this morning I noticed it. As I looked at that picture memories flooded my mind. Both my mom and dad passed away some years ago and I can remember the circumstances of their death but that was not foremost in my thoughts.

I studied the picture and spent a little time remembering the good times which much outnumbered the tough ones. I picked the picture up and took a closer look at mom in a rocking chair with dad standing beside her with their loyal dog at their feet in front of a white bark birch. It was a very peaceful and happy picture. I looked intently on their faces and could see the effects of Parkinson’s in mom’s eyes and dementia in dad’s, but the smiles that they had on their faces overshadowed those signs of what was to come.

I could look at mom and dad’s picture and only remember the final days of their life as the Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease ran their course, but I did not. If I were to only think of their end I would miss out on all of the great and happy memories that I experienced this morning.

Life is a real journey that can be remembered as mostly sad or happy. People see it both ways. Could our perception of life be a choice? Why do some people see the up side of life and others the down side? Are the experiences we encounter today going to be remembered as very peaceful and happy, or sad?

These are the everyday issues we address from a biblical view every Sunday morning at 10:30 and Wednesday evening at 7:30 at The Gathering Place.

Pastor

John Pfeifer