Auction Stuff and Wisdom

I filled my Jeep yesterday with auction boxes like this one.

The auction was out of town on a little farm.

I overheard one of the family saying it was 90 years of a

life in that house and in those boxes.  It's always a little

sobering when you look around and see everything cleared

out and out for sale.  You can tell a lot about who used

to live there.  The lady of the house loved to collect pretty

dishes and tea pots.  They chose quality oak furniture

that stood the test of time and children for decades.

They didn't get rid of things just to buy the newest fad.

At the bottom of one of the boxes was a bunch of candles.

 Some were melted.

I immediately thought of Erma Bombeck's wisdom

she shared when she found out she was dying from cancer.

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER ~

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth

would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted

in storage.

I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was

stained, or the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried

must less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the

fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about

his youth. 

I would have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day

because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and

more while watching life.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical,

wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished

every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner."  There would have been more "I love you's"  More "I'm sorry's.".

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute...look at it and really see it...live it...and never give it back.  Stop sweating the

small stuff.

Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, who's doing

what.

Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do 

love us

Let's think about what God HAS blessed us with.  And what we are doing each day to promote ourselves mentally, physically, emotionally.

~~~~~

One thing I realized about the lady of the house at the auction~

she didn't just collect teapots.  She used them!

There were tea rings and tea leaves in all of them!

That made me smile.  They didn't just sit lonely on shelves 

looking pretty.  They weren't too good to use and they

weren't saved for a rainy day.

 I imagine her serving tea and chatting with

friends around her kitchen table.  

Lovely.

♥