October 1, 2026
Last week was our family vacation at the beach. There were five adults and seven grandchildren in one house. At times it can be a bit loud and chaotic, but we always have a great time.
I have heard several of my grandchildren comment on how much they look forward to the beach vacation each year. My granddaughter, Liza, accompanied me to the store on Monday after we returned. We were discussing how quickly vacation time seems to pass. She commented that she had several people texting her while we were gone. She read me the response she sent to her text messages, and I had to laugh. She said, "Sorry I didn't call or text. I was enjoying life." She didn't have time to respond because she was having so much fun enjoying life.
Her answer to others made me smile but also made me think. Each day we are given in this life is a gift, and we should enjoy it to the fullest. Are there days when life might not be very fun? Yes, of course. But even on the hard, not-so-fun days, we can find things to enjoy.
Maybe it's just noticing that the birds are singing, the sun is shining, the flowers are blooming, there is food on your table, there are people who love you, and most of all, there is a God who will never leave you alone. For me, those are the days that are easy to enjoy. Life might be going smoothly, with no issues and no big problems, so everything does seem quite enjoyable.
There are other days when life actually can seem hard to enjoy. There might be financial problems, health issues, stressed relationships, and many other things that could stand in the way of your enjoyment. I have to say, when my life is like that, and believe me, I have been there, I have to direct my focus to all the ways God has brought me enjoyment in this life. Looking back on times He has been there for me in hard circumstances makes the good days even more enjoyable.
Enjoying life doesn't mean you pretend that the pain and the hard times don't exist. It just means you need to recognize and focus on the joy that is deeper than your circumstances.
When life is good, we seem to enjoy God's gifts easily and with gratitude. When life gets hard, we can still enjoy it by remembering His faithfulness in every season. We can always find something to learn in each season of life. Easy seasons usually remind us of God's generosity and provision. Hard seasons should deepen our faith and cause us to realize we can always depend on God. Seasons of life do not remain the same forever, but God's presence in your life will. Ecclesiastes 8:15 says, "So I commend the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun."
Maybe we should just remember the simple things in life that God has given to us and not the circumstances we might be facing. My granddaughter's words have echoed in my mind this week. "I was enjoying life." What a beautiful goal for all of us!
I want to focus on enjoying the life God has given me as I look for joy in His daily blessings, find peace in His presence, and receive hope through Him in each season of life. The best way to embrace and enjoy life is to trust God in both the sunshine and the storms. Let's try to take our focus away from our worries, so we see the goodness of God and just enjoy life!
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Jill Johnson finds spiritual applications in her everyday experiences as a wife, mother, grandmother, and Georgian. Jill is retired from the Georgia Baptist Mission Board and is available to speak to your church's women's gatherings. Reach her at jjohnson@gabaptist.org.
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