The Circle of Life

The following is, at times, a reflection of my own thoughts and interpretations of life given to me by God and is in no way intended to minimize His greatness or the extent of his eternal power but to give Him the glory! Jesus is the GREAT I AM; the Alpha and Omega…He is the Creator of my Circle of Life!

The circle as a symbol of life is presented to me when individual parts of the circle connect with every other to form a perfect union; and what happens to one part, or what one part does, affects all life within the circle.

For all of us, our journey begins with the miracle of birth; as a result of the joining of two tiny cells. It is miraculous that God can transform us into beautiful human beings throughout just a nine-month period; where we grow and reside safely aboard our mothers’ womb. When the time is right, He breathes into our lungs to jump-start our bodies which brings us to life. He enables us to see, hear, feel, smell and touch and taste. He also gives us the ability to walk and talk, to laugh and cry, show anger, and experience pain and sorrow. Even though we are very similar in form we are all very different…not only by sex, size, and color; but by our thoughts, desires, and actions. God, being the Master artist of all the universe, made each and every one of us special and unique by giving us identifiable fingerprints. Beautifully and artfully designed there are no two the same in all the world.  He fills us with His Spirit and as we begin to grow in mind and body, he gives us a sense of awareness; a conscience, free will, and a hunger for knowledge of Him. As recorded in Galatians 5:22-23 He gives us the Fruit of the spirit; the greatest of which is LOVE, to produce character traits within us that guide us to become Christ-like. Thus, we go forth and our Circle of Life begins.

Just as God has given us fingerprints, God has given each and every one of us talents or gifts. We often admire the talents of others who are gifted in music, artistry, craftsmanship, creativity, or simply by having a heart filled with human kindness and compassion. I have heard people remark, “I’m not talented at anything; I’m lucky if I can tie my own shoes.” I believe God gives us all talents and they are not always as obvious as someone who can play the piano at the age of 3. We share our talents throughout our life by loving and helping other people. Sometimes just being there and being a good listener is a gift! Even though talent is more prevalent in some people as opposed to others, I believe God’s plan is for everyone to use their gifts for the purpose of strengthening His kingdom here on Earth. Therefore, we must all develop and utilize the gifts he has given us and not waste a single moment in doing so. All of this is purposeful on our journey through our Circle of Life. 

As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

1 Peter 4:10 KJV

God has given us one of the most beautiful gifts of all. It’s something we always have with us on our journey through our circle of life and no one can take it away… our Memory! As we reflect on our past, we have a memory to recall moments in time that guided us, encouraged us, and kept us strong, stable, and grounded. It enriches our lives and helps us become filled with knowledge. Memories can also be hurtful; the loss of a loved one, times of sickness, despair, and pain. So many times, throughout our life we have shared special times with people we love and desire that time to go on forever, and it can be through the gift of our memory. Many times, however, memories can cause emotions filled with sadness, loneliness, and regret. But then a miracle happens, God gives us a NEW DAY filled with brighter tomorrows and new memories. Our circle of life continues and even though our memories fade as we grow older, I believe God will refresh our minds in Heaven and we will be able to recall our memories…over and over…forever and ever. Any time I feel discouraged or down, I use my memory to recall everything God has done and be encouraged by His presence. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Some of my favorite memory verses to check out: Psalm 103:2, Psalm 119:55, Deuteronomy 5:15, Deuteronomy 8:2, Psalm 77:11 and Chronicles 16:12

Most of us were fortunate to learn about the Trinity; God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit as young children guided by our parents who took us to church. Their knowledge and interpretation of the bible were taught to them in the same way and this information has been passed along since the beginning of time dating back to Adam and Eve. Many people have not been as fortunate to hear the Good News of our Lord and savior therefore it is our responsibility as Christians is to become disciples for Christ bringing them into our Circle to teach and love them as Jesus has taught and cared for us. (Re: Matthew 28:18-20)

To get a better understanding of our circle of life you have to know Jesus.  I have always been very curious about his life as a child. Growing up we learned of his birth, miracles he performed in his adulthood; about his death and resurrection but not a lot about what his life as a child was like. Joseph and Mary, both descendants of David, lived in Nazareth in Galilee. Mary was pregnant and about to give birth when it came time to register, per a Roman decree for the census, and to pay their taxes in the town of Bethlehem. They traveled there and shortly after Jesus was born in a manger. On the eighth day after his birth, he was given his name and circumcised; then one month after birth Joseph and Mary took him to the temple in Jerusalem to present him to the Lord as per the purification rites required by the Law of Moses. (Re: Luke 2:22-38) After this, they returned to the town of Nazareth in Galilee. Jesus was a carpenter and he grew to become strong, physically, mentally, and spiritually and became filled with wisdom beyond his years. He was the oldest of brothers, James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. It was believed he also had at least two sisters. I would imagine that his parents were very protective of him and kept him in a very sheltered environment. Every year they would travel to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. At the age of 12, unbeknownst to his parents, Jesus came up missing and was found in the temple, in midst of the greatest rabbis in the land. They were amazed and completely astonished by the depth of his knowledge. He could have lived anywhere but chose to dwell among the poor with whom he sympathized and helped. He was very bright, active, quick to understand, and thoughtful with an unselfish spirit with a willingness to serve others. He was patient and truthful, kind toward the aged, the poor, and even the animals. In the days of Christ, the Jews put great emphasis on the education of their children.  Their schools were connected with the synagogues and the teachers were the rabbis. It is unclear to me if Jesus learned from the rabbis in the synagogue but it is very clear that he taught in the synagogue. It is believed that instead of God’s word, the sayings of men were studied and were often contrary to that which God had taught through his prophets. I believe God himself through His Holy Spirit instructed Mary how to bring up Jesus. Mary taught him from the scriptures and he learned to read and study them for himself. I would imagine he studied the wonderful things God had made on the earth and tried to learn lessons from them in order to understand the reason of things. Some believe that Holy angels were with him and helped him to learn from these things about God. Our daily goals are to study God’s word and his works so that we too can see the wisdom and goodness in his teachings and to strengthen our minds and hearts in accordance with his wishes. We are to use discernment always in our studies of the bible. Our lives have been changed forever because of His sacrifice on the cross!  He is the ultimate blessing in,  and reason for, our Circle of life!!

Our Circle of Life continues through…days and months and years! It is never without trials and tribulations; always testing our faith and our perseverance! Throughout my life, I have lived through the tragic death of my father; which was a result of a farm accident, the death of my granddaughter at the age of 9 months from brain cancer, my husband’s cancer diagnosis -Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, his heart attack, and stroke. Ryan, my youngest son, served in the United States Navy for 20 years. During that time some of the places he traveled were very dangerous parts of the world. Concern and worry for his safety were always at the forefront of my mind. But it was the most recent incident that brought me to my knees. Ryan was stricken with covid and ended up in the hospital’s ICU unit. I have always believed in God but truthfully, I have not always trusted and had faith in him! It’s a funny thing about faith, you don’t realize how little you have until you give your life up completely to Christ! Everything changes! My fears, my anxiety and worry completely controlled my life up until a very a few years ago, and I am now 67. I met a pastor named Nick who truly led me to the cross! My eyes were suddenly wide open and I finally and fully understood why I needed to let God into my circle of life. Ryan was seriously ill, and although I was deeply concerned, I felt a peace about it me whereby when it was all over and he was recovering I almost felt guilty for not worrying. Crazy I know…but if you knew me before you could understand that my life was consumed with worrying about everything. With Ryan’s illness, I knew God was in control and no matter what I did was not going to change the outcome…I just needed to pray like never before, giving all the praise and glory to God for healing! I was completely at peace until one night when the Devil would have it no more.  He decided to raise havoc with me at about 2:00 am.  He had my stomach in knots worrying about this and that. We battled about the vaccine; should I get it, or not. We battled about the fact that I wasn’t worried to death about Ryan and that must mean I didn’t care. He wrestled with me for hours about everything that was going on in my life. I know it was God giving me courage when I finally got up, went into our living room, opened the sliding door, and told the devil to get out and to go back to hell! I know the closer I draw to God, the more the devil will try to worm his way into my life, but now he will never be able to break my circle of life!! (Re: Refer to James 4:7 “Submit Yourselves Therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”) I really needed to learn this lesson of putting on the “Armor of God”

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Ephesians 6:11 KJV

Miracles are a mystery of God!  We don’t really understand why they happen nor do we understand the times when they happen but God always has a plan in mind. Miracles are mind-boggling and we come away from them with a stronger faith and a closer bond with God and with one another. Everything in life happens for a reason, and it is God’s will. Many of us have been blessed with a miracle on our journey through this life!  For me personally, I would have to say the birth of my children is probably the greatest miracle and gift God has given me. The birth of future generations as a result of my DNA is all held as a miracle in my heart and soul and is essential to the completion of my circle of life.

Often, I think about all the unforeseen times that God has kept watch over me and protected me from dangers I was unaware of; from that near-hit accident, or that illness where He cured me that I never knew existed. This incredible feeling of protection comes to me through my relationship with God and his everlasting promise to keep me safe as I have read in Psalm 91. I put my Faith and Trust in the Lord first and foremost! I praise Him daily, sometimes hourly, for all the blessings he has given me. He is my guiding light along the path of my Circle of Life! 

It’s not our place to judge each other! I believe that God’s word needs to be spread far and wide and in doing so some misinterpretations of his word can make us judgmental and harsh toward others. We must use a sense of discernment and never lose sight of the knowledge, love, and care God uses in teaching us the truth through his words. Our circle of life involves continuous education by reading the bible, understanding its meaning, and most important, disciplining those who do not know God in an effort to help them attain the gift of salvation through faith. (Re: Regarding – Judgement refer to Matthew 7:1-5, Re: Regarding – Faith refer to Ephesians 2:8-10)

Death is also a miracle in our circle of life!  We often think of death as an ending, completion of a life lived.  For some non-Christians, it does represent the end of life having had no purpose; it’s disappointing, heart-wrenching, and lonely. But as Christians, death is a new birth in a different realm! I believe we will be reunited with loved ones in a new life that we can not even begin to imagine. I also believe that we will be with people of God of all ages. In Heaven, I imagine us as one large loving family serving, worshipping, and glorifying God. The immense size of our Heavenly family will never be overcrowded due to the infinite space of which God has created for his people. Can you imagine the jubilation in Heaven when Christ was raised from the dead? Can you even begin to imagine what it will be like for us to be raised into God’s kingdom; a life of everlasting Love, Peace, and Tranquility? Death is but a passing from one world into another; crossing a bridge of sorts built by God and crossed by all who believe in Him. What a miracle death portrays in our Circle of Life.

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

John 11: 25-26 KJV

From the first breath we take until the last breath we make; God is by our side! As written in John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”. Through our Faith, our Circle is never broken and our Life is everlasting!