Last Wednesday, my dear friend and I stepped into a nice hotel nestled in the busy part of Miami, near the airport. She put a large gift basket in my hands. “I think they left this for you.”
What a lovely surprise! And on the night table was a stand with a copy of my new release, Simplemente Salsa, to be launched at EXPOLIT (an annual event for publishers, bookstores, music artists and distributors—an event to huge for my brain to take in).
I removed the cellophane, lifted items out of the basket and grinned with delight. Then a thought slipped in my head: that’s what heaven will be like—we step into the room Jesus prepared. A delicious and delightful gift waits for us. And beside it, there it sits—the book we wrote with our lives.
A lovely thought…until we examine what would fill the pages of that book. Gulp.
Would it highlight the accomplishments of our life? Would it show the details of what we bought? Would it relate the stuff we accumulated? Or will it illustrate that we simply loved God with all our heart, mind and soul?
The time to step into that house in heaven isn’t far. So we assess the writing. We edit our days and correct any mistaken worry. And with resolve, we erase any unfounded fear. And blot out ways that lead us from God’s path. And definitely, take out any hints of worldly whims and empty desires.
So, being a little bold, may I ask: what will your book contain? Will you page through and smile with its contents as it’s displayed on the night table in the house Jesus prepared for you? In case the changes are extensive, Jesus says: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you” (John 14:1-2).
Father, let me fill the pages of my life’s book with entries that make you smile, bring delight to you and form a sweet fragrance unto you. In Jesus’ name, amen.
• What are you writing with your life?
• Do you ever ponder on the purpose of your days?
• Is there anything you need to have Jesus delete from the pages of your book?
When I first lost my sight, I sat at my kitchen table, certain that I’d never accomplish anything. No eyesight, no future, right? But God said, no chica, you’re wrong. Just wait and see the plans I have for you.He did what he promised, too. He brought software for my computer which reads the screen to me. Pretty cool stuff. So, while my fingers are doing the salsa on my keyboard, I craft insights. To date, hundreds of my stories have danced into magazines, online publications, news columns, 15 anthologies, 19 Chicken Soup for the Soul titles, Guidepost Magazine, and my sassy blogs with inspiration to shine into your day.