Yesterday before our morning service, I happened to notice a guy coming out of the adult Sunday school class licking his fingers.
I stopped him and said, “Mike, what were you all eating in there today?”
He said, “We had donuts. And not just any donuts . . . we had Duck Donuts!”
Duck Donuts was founded on the Outer Banks (in the town of Duck) and is well-known among residents and tourists alike. Even though Mike has lived here a few years, he had never had a Duck Donut before and so he was thrilled to finally get to sink his teeth into that famous circle of confection.
He told me that last summer he had driven past a Duck Donuts and had seen about a hundred people looped around the store, waiting to get inside the building to nab their donut.
I shook my head in disbelief and said, “Life is way too short to stand in line for an hour just to get some food!” Mike wholeheartedly agreed.
As he and I headed off in different directions, I couldn’t help but think about other things that life is too short for. The first one that popped into my head was, “Life is too short to wear shoes that aren’t comfortable.”
If I notice my shoes more than a couple of times in a day (like notice that something about them isn’t feeling right) I will put them straight into the give away bag when I get home. Life’s just too short!
And then my thinking process suddenly turned from donuts and shoes to something more serious.
Before Sunday school yesterday morning, Steve and I and a few others had gathered for prayer. During our prayer time, one of the women began to pray for her ex-husband. She rarely if ever mentions him but as it turns out, he was recently diagnosed with cancer.
There were a couple of things that inspired me about her prayer.
Number One: The fact that she was willing to pray for her ex-husband at all. During their marriage, he had been abusive to her and had made her life and their childrens’ lives very unhappy.
Number Two: The fact that while she prayed for this man who had caused her untold hurt and pain, her heart and her voice were full of compassion and concern, even to the point where tears began to well up in her eyes.
I think if I had asked her at that moment the “Life is too short ” question, she would have replied without hesitation, “Life is too short to hold onto bitterness and unforgiveness.”
When I asked for her permission to tell her story today she said, “Of course you can tell it! Maybe it will be an encouragement to someone else.”
So maybe you’re the one this post is for. I didn’t really even know what I was going to write until I sat down this morning and started to type. Sometimes a post takes on a life of its own and goes its own direction, which is what has happened today.
After jumping from Duck Donuts, to uncomfortable shoes to heartfelt forgiveness, the conversation of the day turns to you, my wonderful readers. Please take a moment and add your own answer to the question.
Your answer can be short or long or it can be profound or silly, But I think it will be interesting to hear the answers, the snippets of wisdom, and the glimpses into our lives our answers will give.
Once more, here’s the question:
Life is too short to _______________________
Or of course any other comment that you want to share is welcome as well. It’s always a treat to hear from you!
RE: The woman praying for here abusive, ex-husband, now that is definitely showing true Christian spirit. It would be very difficult to be so charitable to someone who physically hurts someone who hurts someone/something. I have a very time with any type of cruelty, there is just no reason for it and if the abuser knew what it felt like or suffered the same they might not hurt others. Well, so much for that rant, one reason I can’t tolerate listening to the news!
Life is too short for way too many things to mention, but the shoes that hurt, no way, my shoes may not match my outfit, but adding another pain by wearing bad shoes isn’t going to happen! I would rather go barefoot!
Kari,
Yes, I agree that it would be incredibly difficult to show compassion to someone who has physically hurt me. That’s the great thing about God’s love. It reaches beyond what is our natural instinct and gives us strength to “go beyond.” On a further note, this woman invited her husband to church on Easter Sunday and he came!
Uncomfortable shoes have the potential to ruin a whole day. Comfort wins!
I’ve been thinking about this answer this week. Life is too short for a lot of things!
I’d say: Life is too short to spend it glued to a phone (something I really need to break the habit of); Life is too short to not embrace love as a way of life (Something else for me to work on); and life is too short to not live fully even in the face of challenges (also working on this one).
Jenna,
I love your answers, especially the one about being glued to a phone. So easy to to do. And embracing and living fully are wonderful, as well. I can tell you put some thought into this!
Life is too short to hold grudges. Hate the sin, not the sinner. On a side note, have you tasted a Duck Donut?
Mel,
That is so very true about not holding grudges. Life is waaaay too short!
And no, I have never had a Duck Donut. Someday!
Life is too short not to eat the donut! When my cousin and I went to the northwest nearly three years ago for my 60th birthday trip, there was a donut place called Voodoo Donuts. I walked about a mile to the store and like the Duck Donuts, there was a line outside the shop. I waited for probably close to 30 minutes and while waiting, it started to rain. Unfortunately, I had left my rain coat in the hotel. I was drenched by the time I got back to the hotel, another mile walk, but boy those donuts were delicious!
Another one – life is too short to stay in a job that is making you miserable!
Phyllis,
Well, I imagine you will never forget THAT particular donut, will you? 🙂 You made a fun memory and got a good donut, all at the same time.
And that is so very true about staying in a job that is making you miserable. NOT worth it!
Life is too short to worry. Let go and let God. Is that the donut company in Charlotte? My nephew’s girls love the donuts in that area and did not think they were KK. Not sure. Life is too short not to eat dessert first!
Ann,
Yes, there is at least one Duck Donuts in Charlotte.
I liked your “life is too short” completions! 🙂
Great post, Becky! Fifteen years ago, when I turned forty, I suddenly realized that life is too short to be self-conscious and easily embarrassed. (I am definitely a slow learner!) 😉
Angela,
That is something I struggle with as well.
Your comment is a good reminder that life truly IS too short to deal with self-consciousness and embarrassment although that is sometimes easier said than done! Definitely an ongoing challenge but being aware of it is half the battle.
Life is too short not to buy the Tagalongs (even though the Great Value taste almost as good for $3.00 less a box).
SueEllen,
Love that! (And finding an almost as good bargain is a good thing!)
Life is too short not to find bargains! 🙂
I agree with Catherine above me. I was going to write, Life is too short…just too short. My Mom died a few weeks ago and I realized just how short it is. Although I had her for 41 years, I know now that that is not enough. I really miss her and our talks. I know she is rejoicing in Heaven and she is pain free, but selfishly, I want her here with us! She is missing out on her only grand child growing up. My son is only 2 and will never know what a great Grammy he had. I was looking for photos of the two of them last night so I can print them out for him and there are only a few photos of them. So, I know now that we must take more pictures together- with my sister and my Dad so we can have photos if/when they go to heaven.
Also, those donuts look delicious! I wish we had a Duck Donuts here!
Krista,
It’s interesting that you should relate to Catherine’s comment so strongly because she also lost HER mother within the past few weeks. When you lose someone you love (and when you lose them too soon) you are truly reminded of just how short life is.
Hugs to you and your family as you grieve.
Krista,
I Am so sorry you lost your mom. My heart breaks for you and yours. My mom died January 20th and it still seems so surreal. I miss her everyday. And wished I could hug her 1 more time. I had her almost 51yrs. Still not long enough. We only get 1!!! Praying and hugs to all. My deepest deepest sympathies.
Catherine,
How sweet of you to share your compassion and condolences with Krista. Only someone who has lost a mother can understand that particular grief.
Well, it does not seem short to me, but I would recommend a bubble bath now and then; just to enjoy simple things that are right at your fingertips. ( and toe tips!) Ruth
Ruth,
A bubble bath just makes every life better, doesn’t it? And it’s true. There are so many lovely, simple, wonderful things all around us–we just have to notice them and enjoy them.
Life is too short to worry about things that you cannot control. Have faith, let go and let God.
Also….life is too short. Period! Save for retirement, start when you are young and save as much as you can!!!
LeeAnne,
So true about letting go of things we can’t control. Our tendency is to hold on to them tighter but that doesn’t help at all.
And saving for retirement is great advice.
I recently finished a book by Corrie ten Boom, a Christian woman who bravely rescued many Jews during the Holocaust. When she and her sister were caught and sent to a camp themselves, she found herself praying for herself, her family, and the other victims. Her sister, however, would also pray constantly for their Nazi captors and guards– even the cruelest ones. It really reminded me how sometimes the people we least want to pray for really need our prayers the most. Becky, your post just reinforced that to me yet again! Thank you!
Kerri,
I love Corrie ten Boom! I read a story of how she met one of her captors several years after she was released. He came to a meeting she spoke at and didn’t recognize her. He came up to her after the meeting was over to shake her hand and she hesitated for a long time before putting her hand out. When she did though, she felt such forgiveness for him.
We ALL need reminders from the life of a person like Corrie!
Live is too short to dust every week! Funny you should mention Duck Donuts, I have never heard of them before but we got an e-mail from an old friend from KC who is flying out here next week because his kids are opening up a Duck Donuts franchise in Durham.
Dale,
Dusting. Such an exercise in futility because that dust always comes right back! 🙂
That’s funny you had just heard about Duck Donuts. There are about 100 franchises right now so your friend’s kids might be 101! I would weigh 900 pounds if I ever owned a Duck Donuts!
Another classic.
Steve–thank you!
Life is too short,.!!
Catherine,
Life feels EXTRA short when you lose someone you love, doesn’t it? I’m so sorry about your mom; I know you filled the last months of her life with love and did everything you could to make her feel cared for and special. She was blessed to have you as a daughter.