So often we're forced to recognize how short life can really be. Although we know it, and we say it in passing, the harsh reality sometimes hits you square in the face with just a phone call. One of my husband's favorite songs is by Garth Brooks, "If Tomorrow Never Comes". The song goes on to say...will she know how much I love her? This song was really popular years ago when we lost a close family friend. Do the people around you know how much you love them? Have you taken the time to tell them?
They say that death comes in 3's or at least where I grew up that was the old wives tale. Last weekend, my mother, who is 79 and the youngest of nine children, now three, lost her youngest brother who was 82. She and her 87 year old brother and 86 year old sister, with the help of my cousins, close by, made the arrangements, because my uncle didn't have any other family. They knew it was just a matter of time, they knew he had lived a good life, they had spent quality time with him, but the call still came.
On Monday, I received a call from my sister about a high school friend from back home that lost his middle son in an accident. He was just in the 8th grade. My heart was broken. When we lived back home, I taught their oldest son, who is just a year older than our daughter. I can't even begin to imagine the giants they're facing and feeling tonight. Pray for Jeff and Amy.
On that same day, my husband shared with me the loss of one of his closest friends and co-workers...early 50's, died in his sleep of a heart attack. Tony had just spoken with him on Friday and went to his funeral today. Claude was the topic of our dinner conversation tonight..a godly man that honored his wife and his aging mother. A good friend.
Why do I share this? These deaths in the span of just a few days have paused me to stop and think that we're not promised another breath. We should take every opportunity to embrace the ones we love a little more, overlook the small stuff and it really is just small stuff, speak life and love into those around us, laugh out loud, and live out the passions God has placed on our hearts!
Although we may not be promised the next day or even the next minute, we are given the promise of eternal life, if we only accept what Jesus Christ has so freely sacrificed and given for us all. That is the promise of tomorrow even if tomorrow doesn't come.
Embrace the promise.
Ginger
9 comments:
Hi Ginger,
Thanks for such a thoughtful post. I lost a dear uncle last month and it made me travel the same road you are on...there is no guarantee for tomorrow...make today count!
Bless you,
Susan
GINGER,AMEN AND AMEN.YOUR POST WAS SUCH A BLESSING TO ME!HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND. BLESSINGS FAYE
Ginger,
First, I am so sorry for your losses you just shared...family, friends, acquaintances....
Secondly, your message is so true. We are not promised the next moment..and we should tell those around us how much we love them and as you said, "overcome the small stuff"...I really need to take that to heart!
And thirdly, to know that we have the promise of Eternal Life through Jesus Christ..that is the ultimate!!
Thank you for a great post....and a reminder how precious life is!
~Beth
You have had some difficult times recently. We got that phone call three years ago when my BIL was killed in a car accident. But the good news is so many got saved at the funeral and it made us more feverent about being sure people we knew accepted Jesus as their savior--because you don't know if this is your last day on earth.
I'm so sorry Ginger.
I will certainly be thinking about all of these families and keeping them in my prayers.
My dad is a preacher and it really does seem like deaths so often come in threes. I've witnessed it many times through the years. It's really strange.
I love that song "If Tomorrow Never Comes." What a great message and one we really do need to think about.
Off the subject, but did you ever read my post about me getting to meet Garth Brooks at a basketball game? I sat and visited for a few minutes and got my picture taken with him. He was so nice and so down to earth.
Thanks for sharing this reminder with us today Ginger.
Have a blessed weekend!
Love,
Valerie
You are so right, Ginger. We seem to have had a lot of deaths in our community and in our church recently.
I'm so sorry for your loss. Your hubby's too. You're in my prayers.
Blessings,
Beth
I love the last line most. It is where we hang our hope on the promises of God!
I can't tell you how often I pause to ponder the worth of a single day ... a next breath. Death has a way of breeding perspective, especially as the aging process continues, and I witness, first hand, the pain and loss of so many.
A good pondering, Ginger; hard, but needful.
peace~elaine
Sweet Ginger, like you this has been on my heart lately as well that people should not WAIT until it's TOO LATE to say all the things that must be said; need to be said or shared. What if tomorrow didn't come for someone you, I, we love? I hope that I've said and expressed my love to those whom I deeply love and to those whom I care so much about.
Let me take this moment to say to you Ginger that even online I have grown to love you tenderly. Keep sharing my sister. If we meet here wonderful but if not then see you on the other side of heaven.
I pray comfort and peace for the families who have lost loved ones and friends. I understand as I've been there a few times.
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