Finding a Purpose in Packing

Thank goodness the precipitation falling today has been rain and not snow!  It looks like this will be the first time in three weeks we have been to school all five days! Do you know what one of my favorite parts of the snow days have been? Not having to pack lunches!  Packing lunches is one of my least favorite chores on the planet, so if it’s not necessary I certainly don’t want to go through the hassle of doing it.

But then I stop and think about one of the last conversations I ever had with my neighbor. 

She was terminally ill, and we both knew this particular visit was probably our last. After a while, I told her it was time for me to go because I had to go home and pack lunches for the next day.  I said it in a complaining kind of way though, because as I mentioned above, it is not my favorite chore. She jumped on me a little, in her loving, yet firm way, and told me never to take for granted the little things in life that I could do for others.  I came home and cried that night while I packed lunches as her wise words echoed in my soul. I was really going to miss my dear friend and all the life lessons she shared with me.

1 Corinthians 10:31 says:

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

My sweet neighbor taught me so much, but one of the most important lessons I learned from her is that life is short.  We are not guaranteed the next minute, so we shouldn't take things for granted. 

Every once in a while I still catch myself complaining about packing lunches, but every time I do, I think of Connie, and I thank God for the wisdom she shared with me. And then I continue on with the chore, only this time, I put a smile on my face.