Perspective comes with new life and also with death, these most significant events at the beginning and end of the cycle of human life.

There is a verse in the Bible, Ecclesiastes 7:2-4 that talks about it being better to go to a funeral than a celebration. My interpretation of this is the wisdom and value it brings for us to contemplate that our time here is finite. It gives us a gift of perspective, and challenges us to make our time matter, and appreciate what we have.

Similarly the joy of new life with the birth of a baby inspires us with all the possibilities for that life, and the miracle of a new soul born that didn’t exist before.

This doesn’t mean life has to always be taken so seriously and our hearts heavy, but that it is good to take time to reflect on life and death, so that we may live better, fuller lives accordingly. Less concerned with the small things we otherwise would let weigh us down. More concerned with honoring this incredible gift of life, and treasuring the time we have with our loved ones.