Sister Doreen’s Reflections
“Life is short- make it sweet!”
This is quite a popular saying, used in so many different contexts and when I came across it, I found myself thinking that it was also a profoundly important comment and worth pondering. It was an invitation to look at the depth and expansiveness and the importance of the word “sweet” – to ponder what a sweet life is, especially as we have trivialized the word sweet.
“Life is Short, make it Sweet” is a song that was made popular by the American band “Old Dominion” and their positive message was the idea that no matter what your situation, if you have love, count yourself among the blessed ones. This message also engaged my interest.
Lynne Samways Hiltz who comes to volunteer each week in the fundraising office at the Convent reminded me of another thought about Life is Short and shared the following quote:
“Life is short, we do not have much time to gladden the hearts of those who travel this way with us, so be quick to love, make haste to be kind.” (Henri Amiel 1868)
Sweet in Irish Gaelic language ‘bheatha mhath’ literally means ‘the good life’. We have made our understanding and use of the word sweet very narrow, there is much more to this quote than at first might be thought. It is so true that life is short, and we are to make it sweet – precious.
It is interesting to note that the use of the word sweet in the bible covers a multitude of situations. Wandering through the desert without finding water to drink, only bitter and undrinkable water, it was God who gave Moses the means to make the water sweet and God spoke to the people telling them “I am God, I am the One who heals you” (Exodus 15:22 -26).
In so many of the bible passages we notice that sweet is descriptive, or figurative of God’s word, of the relationship between soul friends, of wisdom living, of good conversation, and Christian service. Once I began to think of sweet in the bible, I was surprised at the range of our own spiritual life that is commended to “sweetness”! I share only a few examples:
“How sweet are your words to my taste! They are sweeter than honey to my mouth. Through your commandments I gain understanding …” (Psalm 119: 103 – 104)
“We took sweet counsel together, and walked with the throng in the house of God” (Psalm 55:15)
“Pleasant words are like the honeycomb: sweet for the soul and healthy for the body” (Proverbs 16:24)
“When you sit down, you won’t be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet” (proverbs 3:24)
“But thanks be to God who makes us in Christ sharers in God’s triumph, and everywhere we go manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of God.” (2 Cor. 2:14)
When we ponder the words of psalm 119: 103 it is an invitation to call to mind words of what honey is like: smooth, glides, palatable, pleasant … however we all know that eating something sweeter than honey does not necessarily mean that everything in our lives is sweet, smooth, or palatable like honey! I thought that so often for myself I come to experience that sweetness because what I have experienced previously has been nothing like sweet! Life brings with it heartache and bitterness of soul. God’s word is sweet and pleasant for what aches, for what feels lost, for what is agonizingly difficult. God’s word and God’s promises to us in the midst of all of the seasons of our life experiences – we need to go to these words and these promises, remember them – it is there that we find nourishment, encouragement, strength, and care for our sometimes frail and devasted soul. It will mean that we will be challenged, corrected, sometimes rebuked, certainly needing to change our course or modify our perspectives.
It is also true that I can’t live the sweet life until I can accept who I am, with all the flaws and littleness, as well as the greatness. It is also true that it will mean taking chances and knowing that failure is just a part of learning and fear is a sign that you are trying something new and exciting.
And since life is short, and we are to make it sweet, it is a call to pay attention to what Henri Amiel said:
“Life is short, we do not have much time to gladden the hearts of those who travel this way with us, so be quick to love, make haste to be kind.” It is our call to mission and ministry for each other and the world God loves.
From the hymn book Common Praise, Anglican Church of Canada – Hymn # 620 is a familiar hymn and a fitting way to end this reflection on Life is short, make it sweet. The text was written by John Newton.
How sweet the name of Jesus sounds in a believer’s ear!
It soothes our sorrows, heals our wounds, and drives away our fear.
It makes the wounded spirit whole, and calms the troubled breast;
‘Tis mana to the hungry soul, and to the weary rest.
Dear name! The rock on which I build, my shield and hiding place,
My never-failing treasury, filled with boundless stores of grace.
Jesus, my shepherd, brother, friend, my prophet, priest, and king,
My life, my way, my end, accept the praise I bring.
Weak is the effort of my heart, and cold my warmest thought;
But when I see thee as thou art, I’ll praise thee as I ought.
