GOD, WHY AM I HERE? WHAT IS PURPOSE OF MY LIFE?
I have been asking God, Why am I here? A lot over the past several months. Do you ever ask this question?
If you have landed here on Recipes For Our Daily Bread for the first time, this post is very unusual for me. I typically only blog about recipes but this question God, Why am I here? Has been heavy on my heart. I figure if I cannot get rid of this burning desire to understand my purpose in life that some of my readers may be struggling with the same question.
Last November 2015, my father-in-law went to be with God. I am not just saying he was the best father-in-law I could have ever asked for, but he was great. Don was a Godly man who cared about his family. I know that I know he prayed for all of us daily. He loved God and his family and worked hard to show his love. He was a tremendous servant. Anything anybody needed he was there to help.
Don or (grandpa) always put God first and family next in his life. He passed away from complications with a bone marrow transplant. It was sudden and unexpected. Watching him lie lifeless in that hospital bed for days, made me think about my life. I started asking God, What am I here for? Will people remember I loved God and others when I am no longer here?
As I type this post, I am anticipating a phone call anytime letting me know my Aunt Dot passed away. Fortunately, I was able to make a trip to Mobile to see her this past week. She too was lying lifeless in her hospice bed. She slept most of the day I was there until late in the evening when I was leaving.
I went to tell her I loved her, and she barely whispered I love you. After hearing this, I could not leave. I smothered her with kisses. With tears running down my eyes I told her how special she was to me and how much I loved her. Leaning over her bed and with my terrible singing, I sang Amazing Grace. She could barely whisper and could hardly open her eyes, but she tried to say Amazing Grace. I could see her moving her lips.
When I was about thirteen years old, my mother left my family. After my mom had left, I became very close to my Aunt Dot. She helped me plan my wedding and surprised me at all my bridal showers. She loved to cook and prepare large meals for our entire family. It was her house we gathered for a lot of holidays. To my knowledge, she never used a recipe but was naturally a great cook. My love for cooking started with my Aunt Dot. I saw first hand how food could bring a family together, and I wanted to learn how to do that. Aunt Dot always took the time to tell me how she prepared my favorite dishes.
After my mom had left, I became very close to my Aunt Dot. She helped me plan my wedding and surprised me at all my bridal showers. She loved to cook and prepare large meals for our entire family. It was her house we gathered for a lot of holidays. To my knowledge, she never used a recipe but was naturally a great cook. My love for cooking started with my Aunt Dot. I saw first hand how food could bring a family together, and I wanted to learn how to do that. Aunt Dot always took the time to tell me how she prepared my favorite dishes.
The thing I admired most about Aunt Dot is like my father-in-law, Don; she was a servant. She took care of everyone who needed anything. This included my grandfather, her mother-in-law, my Aunt Dorris and many others including my father. Aunt Dot faithfully prepared meals for my dad for years before he passed away. She went with all of them on doctor's visits and made sure they did not need anything.
Why Do I Ask The Question, God, Why Am I Here?
My family tells me that now that I am 50 I am going through a mid-life crisis. My mid-life crisis is not about material things. In fact, I have been giving everything away or tossing it in the trash lately. I am trying hard to simplify my life.
My mid-life crisis is figuring out what I can do that will leave a lasting impression on generations to come. How can I help others? How can I teach others about God?
My purpose in life in the past was to teach my kids about God. Most of you know my husband, and I have five children. Our kids include a son named Caleb who has had seventeen brain surgeries. Read more about Caleb here. We also have two adoptive children. Now that my kids are older, I find myself evaluating my life. What am I here for now? What am I supposed to be doing for the rest of my life?
I love God and know that when I die, I am going to heaven. I know Jesus died on the cross for my sins, but I feel like my life is not complete here on earth. My heart says, I should be doing something else with my life. Can you relate? I would love to be doing something more to teach people there is a loving God.
Sibling Problems due to a terrible childhood.
A son, Caleb, who has had 17 brain surgeries, cerebral palsy, seizures and more.
Two adopted children who have RAD, depression, ADHD, dyslexia and more. We have had a tough time with our adopted children, BUT my husband and I are all for adoption. We Pray, every child would have a chance to be adopted at the earliest age possible. If only children could be raised in a loving home, would help prevent loads of problems. If you would like to support adoption, PLEASE READ MY SHOWHOPE POST. I feel like doing something to help children get loving parents maybe what God is calling me to do, but I am just not sure what.
Life has not been easy, but God has always worked things out. He has been with me through every struggle. Without God, I would be CRAZY!
We will all experience death one day. All of our days are numbered. I guess I realize that more than ever. When my father passed away, I was only 24 years old. I was a Christian but way too young to realize life is short. Now that I have experienced many more deaths, I understand my days are numbered too. God knows the beginning and the end of all of our lives. My Aunt Dot told me this all the time. She said it would be well with her when her time comes but until then she would continue to enjoy the sunshine. Aunt Dot saw God in nature. She loved to garden and look at the enormous oak trees in her yard. She told me many times she could talk to God when she was working in her yard.
There has to be something more to life than accumulating stuff all our lives. Stuff that we put in garage sales donate to Goodwill or toss in the trash. I have been getting rid of things. It is freeing knowing that I have less to clean and more time to spend on what is important in life.
I am always asking God, Why am I here? What is the purpose of my life? I beg GOD to use me to teach others about Him. I wanted to start another blog to do this, but my family thinks three blogs would be crazy. They are right. Two blogs are a plateful, but it is not going to stop me from writing encouraging posts on Recipes For Our Daily Bread or Our American Travels. Maybe, it will force me to reevaluate my life and everything I do.
Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own.  Listen for God's voice in everything you do; everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track".
I pray once I figure it out, and everyone else who is seeking an answer to this question figures it out we will have BOLDNESS to do what God is placing on our hearts.
God send us to this world for his obligation an spread love to each other. But we people are not give love to others , Lord give us strength please.
Beautifully written! Thank you for sharing your heart with us!
You made me learn that it's okay sometimes to write something out of the topic and particularly about yourself which your readers might be interested or suffering from.
It really is tough when you lose someone close, and are stuck picking up the pieces. With the children's learning problems and all the other difficulties it must be really easy to get swamped.
I've found that same psalm has helped me many times when I was feeling low too.
Try listening to Gods word, with Andrew Womack. AWMIN.Net. You can see all his archived tv programs. He is wonderful. What he has is like a candy store in Gods word.
Diane, with all the chaos in my own life, I am just reading this wonderful post you have written. I believe I know what you are struggling with, and want to help others understand in their own life. You have been a tremendous friend and influence for good as you have encouraged me since I began blogging 3 1/2 years ago; and for that I am truly grateful and cannot repay. It is thanks to friends like you that I continue my own 'mission of blogging' to strengthen, edify and lift, in even a small way for people to see the shadow or influence they cast now on family and friends, and leave behind for generations to come. Our decisions, actions and words can bring peace and happiness to ourselves and others. That is my quest with my novel(s) and blog. So again, I want to tell you how much I appreciate your generous and kind friendship, the times I wanted to give up, but you were there to buoy me up again. You are a Godly woman and I'm so blessed to have you in my life.
I have had so many blog problems lately that I am just reading your comment. Thank you so much for your VERY SWEET words. They mean so much to me. I pray every day that I can encourage people with my blog, the decisions I make, and every word I speak or write. We are only on this earth for a short time and I WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. We are a lot alike I see and admire the same things in you. You are very encouraging to me too, a great mom, grandmother, wife, daughter-in-law, mother-in-law and so much more. God is uses you to do amazing things and I pray HE continues to bless you.
Purpose is something that comes from within, and I think your willingness to share your stories is proof of that purpose. People will read your stories and know they are not alone. And your recipes help people every day too!
Thank you for your encouraging words. I truly appreciate you leaving me a message on Recipes for our Daily Bread. God is really good! I am very thankful for the people who stop by and are so encouraging.
I am going to check out your travel site. I have a travel blog also at ouramericantravels.com I love travelings and sharing my experiences with others.
You have been a fabulous example of a Godly woman in my work with you. I think of you fondly, and pray for you and your children.
I think many Christians I know have been feeling a wrestling in our souls– a feeling that we ought to be doing something. I will be praying that God will give you guidance on the course He has for you, just as I pray He will guide my steps as well.
Thank you for sharing your heart and stating the question that many of us ask and/or wonder about. I know that I've wondered that very thing many, many (!) times. My phrasing was slightly different, yet essentially the same… "You've saved me many, many times over and I have to wonder what You have in mind for me to do." Okay, maybe I didn't utter an actual question for fear that He might actually let me know what He wants me to do! But obviously, you are not alone in that same revelation that God created us for His purpose and we sometimes don't know, fail to realize, or belabor trying to decipher what that is. I admit to all of the above. I confess to laziness and am hesitant to totally surrender because of the former! Tsk. Tsk! Yet, He still protects me, loves me, and provides for me. Unlike the Beatles, I am not the walrus, I am a sparrow – for God continues to care for me!
Again, thank you Diane! Your words, love for Christ, and love for others will continue for far longer than you will ever know.
You made my day! I got that dreaded phone call this morning that my aunt Dot passed. I really needed your comment this morning. It was extremely encouraging.
Because I have a recipe blog and I do not normally talk a whole lot about God on my blog post, I was afraid this post would not go over well. Thank you for sharing your heart. You sound like an amazing Christian person.
Marbeth, Thank you for stopping by and reading my post on GOD, WHY AM I HERE? I saw Aunt Dot a few days ago and took it pretty hard. She is an incredible sweet lady. Anyway, I love reading your Facebook post and keeping up with you. You are also an incredibly sweet Christian lady. I look forward to meeting you as well.
Many blessings to you and your precious family. I would love have an update on your Foster kids. I know that is a calling and a difficult one at that.
You are always so encouraging to me. Thank you for being my friend. You never have anything to say but encouraging words. I hope you know how much you mean to me. I am sorry I have been traveling and moving this summer and have not been that great of a friend.
Beautifully written! Thank you for sharing your heart with us! I hope you know how much I love YOU and your family. You have encouraged me with this post and your life. I am so sorry to hear about Aunt Dot but thankful to hear she knows her Savior and is ready to meet Him face to face. I LOVE how she communicated with you even in her very last days! God is so good! I try to ask myself this question often so I don't lose sight of what God needs me to do. Thanks for reminding me and sharing your life in a more personal way! I love you and I am praying for you today especially as you are grieving the huge loss of Aunt Dot in your life!
Thank you for stopping by and reading my blog post on GOD, WHY AM I HERE? I know you know how it feels to loose someone close to you. It makes me reevaluate my life and see what I need to be doing to reach others. Thank you for being such a great friend for so many years. You are definitely the one friend I have that I know will always listen and pray for me.