Life is what makes it real!

So many of you know that Terry is an avid hunter. In his house, there are many "decorations" that are made of animals that once took in air on this great earth. LOL! (It cracks me up that I am even so light about that!!)

So the other day, we were rearranging things in his house and he has this gorgeous mount of a duck with it's wings spread wide open. When hung, it looks amazing on the wall because of its size and wide wingspan. I was standing there holding this stuffed duck as he drove the nail into the wall and I said, "Gosh, it totally feels like it's real." He stops mid-hammer, turns around and looks at me as he shakes his head and smiles. I say, "what", unsure of what he is looking at me like that for.

He says, "Baby, it IS real!"

Selah! (meaning pause and reflect)

"Well, I know it is real, what I meant is that it isn't REALLY REAL!"

(screeching brake sound inserted here)

What the heck!??!?! What am I saying?!?

OK...let's rewind for a second. I am holding a stuffed duck. It has the same feathers & feet and beak it did when it was wading in it's little pond moments before Terry took him out. That means, the stuffed duck that I am holding is the real deal right?

Well, it got me to thinking...

What makes things/people/situations, etc "real" to me is the life behind it. And I don't mean the simply-breathing-to-consume-oxygen kind of life. I mean the REAL living! The kind of life that stops you every once in a while right smack dab in the middle of your day and makes you sigh with a smile because you are grateful. The kind that feels like that moment you just lived, that memory you just created is the best thing that could ever happen to you and it happens over and over again! The kind of life where even complete strangers peep into your life for 15 seconds and are completely jealous. The kind of life that is doing its intended purpose, on purpose! (you might have to read that one a couple of times to really get it)

I guess to me, that duck with its real feathers, feet and beak wasn't real because there was no life to it. It no longer had any substance, any love(if ducks can feel love), passion, purpose and meaning.

I think LIFE, true life, is what makes things real.