Russell Brand, an English comedian and actor once remarked: “People do this a lot. They don't seem to realize that the future is just like now, but in a little while, so they say they're going to do things in anticipation of some kind of seismic shift in their worldview that never actually materializes. But everything's not going to be made of leather, the world won't stink of sherbet. Tomorrow is not some mythical kingdom where you'll grow butterfly wings and be able to talk to animals - you'll basically feel pretty much the same way you do at the moment.” Psalm 90:10 reminds us: “The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.”
The best days of your life are reputed to be the days that one has enjoyed the most. Perhaps a particular zenith has been abundantly productive, or attained a long-awaited goal. The best days may create fond memories of times gone by, perhaps with loved ones or close friends. Sometimes we may have done something that has been regarded as unusual, even fearful, but provided a valuable degree of stimulation or exhilaration. However, conversely, the best days of life may, for some, simply be illusory. Former days may not always have been as wanted or hoped.
School days are often said to be the best days of one’s life, even though for some, this is viewed as fallacy, or was non-productive at the time. These days may have been regarded with hatred, resentment, or perhaps fear. The yearning and reality of finally walking through the school gates for the last time could be seen as an extremely joyous occasion. It could have been viewed as an eventual release from a vale of tears. The trials of continually attending lessons, where no interest prevailed, the constant boredom, or the arduous necessity of homework, perhaps even the presence of other children that were not considered one’s “Cup of tea,” have finally come to a close.
The same sentiment may be considered by some adults, toward childhood years in general. Perhaps they weren’t a particularly happy time, hardship could have restricted the full scope of happiness. If the parents separated, especially in vulnerable years, that may cause devastation or insecurity in the eyes of a child. If a parent has passed away in the prime of life, that residue hurtful feeling of not being loved by one or another could create a sense of both bitterness and solitude. However, the responsibility of parentage may still have applied. Proverbs 22:6 reminds us: “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
Many adolescents believe that when one eventually closes the door on schooling, that life will become better and more enjoyable. Freedom from authority presumes and the wings of life can be spread openly to their fullest extent. One has the opportunity to fly to anywhere, and experience the life they so optimistically seek. They may consider that the grass is always greener on the other side. Sadly, this is an illusionary element of life, as often, things don’t change, and may become even harder. Even more constraints may apply. If one has not taken advantage of their schooling and not performed well academically, there may be problems obtaining a job of merit with good money, they may be reduced to the lowly paid and menial positions of life that could become even more arduous than the disagreeable school days themselves.
Those lamentable days can magically transform into much happier times when compared to the present. This is where regret can come to the fore. The advantages provided in youth probably gave way, or were discarded in favour of apathy or rejection. James 4:13-16 warns: “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit” - yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.”
In sharp contrast, for those who adopted a different approach and made the most of schooling, a different outlook on life may well prevail. For the uninitiated, everything accumulates to become a detrimental or negative state of mind with little hope of a healthy outlook, but for the exploiters, the world can become their oyster. In the United Kingdom, it is still compulsory for all state-funded schools to teach Religious Education. However, sadly these days, it is not regarded as part of the national curriculum. Parents are given the legal right to withdraw their children from part or all of the now optional lesson if they so wish. This may be considered by some as a lack of provision of an essential subject.
Religion taught in schools is often the initial introduction to God at an early age. If the parents do not attend church, it may be the only source available for a child to gain any understanding of God. The lack of that can inhibit spiritual, moral and social growth which could detract from a Godly personal development or discernment that can derive a totally different person in nature and thought. Ernest Agyemang Yeboah, a Ghanaian writer and teacher once remarked: “We all have different perspectives to life. We all do take different decisions in life each day based on our convictions. We may take wrong or right decisions knowingly and/or unknowingly. We may regard the decisions of others as right or wrong. We may have a right or wrong reasons to judge others. We have a choice to condemn or uplift others regardless of their situation. May we, instead of finding reasons to condemn, find reasons to uplift others.” Philippians 3:13-15 confirms: “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.”
In the unlikely event that we are disappointed with our parentage, we should refrain from disrespect. However, the best days of your life could be regarded as making the right choice towards God. This equally applies with perfect parents also. If we allow Him into our lives, and accept Him as our Father, our parental family grows, and what better addition could we ask for? We then have the best days that life can offer. However, Ecclesiastes 5:1-5 reminds us: “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. For a dream comes with much business, and a fool's voice with many words. When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.”
Amen.
