“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10

Popeye was a popular cartoon hero during my childhood. Although he always saved his girl, he also projected a somewhat fatalistic attitude towards life. When faced with frustrating circumstances and personal limitations, he would always respond with “I yam what I yam.” Did you ever notice how, in Popeye’s world, he seemed to have little desire to grow or become what he ‘yam’ not? He was resigned to “that’s all I yam.”

That’s not an unfamiliar response for many of us. With so much attention given to the highly successful people of the world, it’s easy to slip into the thinking, “I’ll never amount to anything, so why bother?” The truth is God has wired and gifted each of us differently, and frustration will surely result when we try to be something we’re not. Yet, God has also promised to fill up our life with the possibilities and opportunities He places before us. It would be tragic to miss those possibilities and the greater blessing God wants each of us to experience in this life because we’re too busy feeling sorry for ourselves.

Life with a capital ‘L’ stands in sharp contrast to Popeye’s view of life. Living life, as God intended me to live it, means growing, stretching, and realizing ALL that I yam as His workmanship. It is the kind of living that neither gives up, nor tries to be what I yam not. Purpose, perseverance and courage characterize a life lived in the One who gave us life in the first place. It is not consumed with self, but with wholeheartedly dedicated to living for God’s glory and the blessing of others. Such a life experiences an all-satisfying delight in the One who has made us and called us.

Children in an affluent society tend to see life as being all about fun—as much as possible for as long as possible with little thought of God or His plans for their life. But when we become adults, as Paul reminded us, we put away childish ways and thoughts. How are you helping your grandchildren learn what it means to become an adult, and that fun means more than being constantly entertained?

C.S. Lewis wrote about how easily pleased we are making mud pies in the slum when we could enjoy a holiday by the sea. Let’s show and teach our children that becoming an adult doesn’t mean the end of good times. Give them a taste of the enjoyment comes from living a life that is rich towards God and serves others.

GRANDPAUSE: “Loving life in a true and substantive way is not about loving my life… but instead loving the Author of life and as a result, living life as it’s meant to be lived.” — Matt Heard