A Life Worth Living

We all work hard. We make sacrifices and struggle and sweat. We work, do chores, pay bills, and care for our kids and sometimes our parents. Why? What is the point of it all? Does it really make a difference? As I continue down my own journey God slowly reveals to me His design. I begin to see the graces that come from living a life of sacrificial love.

The heartbreaking loss of Tim Steenberge has helped provide some additional perspective on the “Why” in my life. All life is precious, but when tragedy happens to someone that you easily relate to, it has a deeper impact. Of all the beautiful words, song, and prayers said at Tim’s funeral, the most impactful for me was the bottle of wine that was brought up to the alter as part of the gifts. The explanation was printed on an insert in the bulletin. It was written by his wife Jeannie:

In the first years of our marriage, we took a weeklong vacation to visit the wine cellars of Burgundy.  By happenstance, we were privileged to get a private tour of Chateau Figeac by the owner.  We bought a bottle of 1988 St. Emilion, which promised to get better with age.  It was during this trip that we indulged ourselves in our wildest hopes for the future.  We hoped to have children, we hoped to always share the love we had for each other at that moment, we hoped we would have successful and fulfilling careers.  We decided we’d let the wine age over the years of our marriage and drink it on a special occasion.

Over the years, the bottle came with us through our many moves:  two countries, two states and four houses.  Periodically we’d talk about when we would open the wine.  Should we drink it at a graduation?  On an anniversary?  When would be the moment when we could celebrate the realization of all those dreams we dreamed in France?

On Christmas day, 2014, we decided the time had come.  We were blessed with the realization that our dreams had come true.  We didn’t want to wait for a “special” occasion like a wedding, because our everyday life together with our three beautiful children was the realization of everything we could possibly want.  We wanted to celebrate the ordinary, because every precious day with our little family was the realization of our wildest dreams.  We knew what we had.  We never took it for granted.  This is what will get me through the coming months and years.  That, and the love of our amazing family and friends.

What amazing fruits come from a life well lived, that is full of goodness, sacrifice, faith, and love. So next time you are getting frustrated or cynical, wondering why should I sow kindness when the world is so full of anger and resentment, think of Tim. And find the one you love and open that bottle you’ve been saving.