I've had God jerk my chain so many times during my life that I wonder why he didn't give up on me long ago. That is, until I remember that God loves us and He never gives up on us, right up to the moment we die.

I have always known what was right and what was wrong; but, like all humans, I succumbed time and again to the temptations in front of me. I even occasionally took the attitude of "carpe diem." That was due in large part to the examples I saw before me in people I had loved and trusted. And that's when I got my chain jerked!

What ultimately saved me was my kids. They didn't ask to come into this world; I made that decision. I hate parents who say or imply that their children owe them something. They, too, made the same decisions that I made.

The only thing we owe our parents is respect ;unfortunately, some parents don't even deserve that. We don't owe them our lives nor even our love. If they want that, they have to earn it. And they have to work to keep it.

I wanted my children's respect and their love. So, when God kept jerking my chain, I came to a point that I recognized what He was doing. That's when I began to live for more than the moment.

But I still had this sense of my life not being fulfilled. In spite of changing my personal life, I still felt that the best of life had been denied me. But I did nothing about it.

Then, God started jerking my chain again. It took me some time to realize that He was telling me that He wanted me to go for that one last thing that would complete my life here.

He's jerking another person's chain right now too. And I am part of what will fulfill his earthly destiny. I know that without the slightest doubt or hesitation. He's coming to that realization as well. I am patient. God may have to jerk his chain a few more times, but he will get the message, and he will be ready to go to that next step. I did!