Child of God

By June Reedy|March 1st, 2014|stages of life|

I was a 1929 Depression baby who will be eighty-five this July. I have had, and am still having, an exceptionally blessed life. My every wish and hope have come true, seldom when I wanted them, but in God’s own good time.

Life handed me my human share of tragedies, losses, failures, bad choices, and disappointments. Many I handled badly, some I overcame, some I had to forgive, some taught lessons I needed to learn, and some even left me wiser and stronger.

My major failing is living in the future, planning, preparing, and working for what will come next. Now, I am striving to live in today – to savor each moment with the husband I adore, admire and respect. My richest and happiest times are with our amazing, successful, independent, and hilarious six children, and their equally wonderful spouses and offspring.

Tom and I have made our end of life plan and are executing it. Last year, we moved to a resort-like retirement home with great facilities for physical and mental health.

We have found a multitude of new friends, who stimulate and enrich our lives. But most of all, we have freed our children from the obligation of caring for us when our health fails. Our wills are made, are finances are secure, and our health exceptional for a couple of old geezers.

My philosophy of life for these last years is unchanged. I still believe, and try to follow the rules drummed into my empty young head by my strict, frugal, and adoring parents and grandparents. These are:

  • there is a God, and He loves you,
  • do not lie, although I am guilty of the random exaggeration,
  • treat others as you would be treated, bigotry is unacceptable,
  • never stop learning – read, read, read,
  • don’t waste what you have, and
  • don’t expect anyone to provide for you, prepare to be self-sufficient.

Because of the family’s desperate circumstances, these guidelines left out much about fun, travel, and the social graces; these I had to learn from others, and am still learning.

I am not afraid of dying, although curious about what comes next, and do believe there is a “Next.”   I want to be cremated, to have a life celebration at the downtown First Presbyterian Church with the organ belting out Offenbach and Straus at the end. I want to be remembered happily, not mourned, because I was granted the best possible life.

I have always been and will ever be a child of God.

June Reedy, March 2014