Life is beautiful.

The phrase brings to mind a poignant Italian foreign language film (La vita è bella - Italian for "Life is Beautiful") with a powerful message that will break your heart, while encouraging your spirit. It begins as a sweet romance between an Italian Jew, Guido Orefice, and his wife. As the movie progresses, the focus moves to the couple’s young son. After being taken by the Nazis to a concentration camp, Guido hides his son in the barracks, where he manages to convince his precious little boy that the whole thing is a game, that it's not scary, and that soon there will be a winner - the prize being a tank (the Allies coming to the rescue.).




It brought tears to my eyes as I thought about how this father wanted his son to have a beautiful life - not a life full of the fear and danger he was experiencing. But, I couldn’t help wonder how much more beautiful life would've looked to this family had they lived with the knowledge that God is in control? If God had been the center of their lives? If, instead of fearing that his son would find out that World War II was not a game, he had hope—hope that his trials weren’t for naught—hope that the Lord holds all of us in the palm of His hand, and that for the Lord's Chosen people hardship is destined to end, how wonderful that would have been.

I guess lately I've just been thinking about the blessing of life—the blessing that through wonderful times, difficult times, and even sad times, the Lord is always with me. I may not be able to hear Him or feel Him. I can't see Him or smell Him; but, He has promised to never leave me. He's there whether I know it or not. I'm in the palm of His hand and can never be moved. I don't know about y'all, but that knowledge gives me an overwhelming sense of peace. And it makes my life beautiful.

My life really is beautiful. And, as I sit here reflecting on all the blessings the Lord has literally SHOWERED upon me, I feel so overwhelmed with thankfulness. I'm not always as thankful as I should be, and for that I am so ashamed. I thank my Precious, wonderful Savior for all He’s done in my life.

How about you? Have you taken the time today to thank the Lord for what is beautiful in your life? For the blessings? Yes, we should thank the Lord for the hard times too (they do build our character), but sometimes we're told that so often that we forget to tell God "thank you" for the good things too. So, take a moment, hit your knees and praise the Lord for your beautiful life.