When I was in my early twenties my wife, kids, and I lived in a tiny one bedroom apartment above what used to be a drug store. We moved the dining table out of the room next to the kitchen and put it in the living room. Then we put two small beds there for our children. My son was only four and my daughter two. My wife was pregnant with our 3rd child as well.

One day I was letting my wife rest in the bedroom while my little ones played in the living room. I was folding a few clothes on their beds while I heard them laughing and chasing each other around the chairs and couch. I smiled and continued to put their clothes away until all of the sudden it got very quiet. Concerned, I walked into the living room and saw that they had both fallen asleep in the middle of their game. I laughed when I looked down at them. Then I lovingly picked up my son, walked to his bed and tucked him into it. I went back for my daughter and picked her up as well. She stirred a bit in my arms so I rubbed her back and kissed her head while she wrapped her tiny arms around my neck. Then I placed her gently under her covers and watched her drift back to sleep. I stood there quietly for a long time just watching them both sleep. My heart felt warm and full of love for them. I felt so blessed to have them in my life and I thanked God for giving them to me. I wondered too if this is the way our Heavenly Father feels when He watches over us.

I know that one day I will leave this world and return to His Loving Arms. When I do, however, I want to do it like my children did that day. I want to live each day with all the love, laughter, and joy I possibly can. And when I finally drop I want to do it with a smile on my face and a song in my heart. May all of your days be full of such laughter and joy. And may your heart be forever full of love until you return to the Loving Arms that made you.