I read this title last week, and thought about writing about my death. Let me say I like being alive and don’t expect to die soon. Time goes so fast. It seems like a couple of springs ago I was at the Spring Fling at Florence State University (now University of North Alabama) and getting ready for college graduation. I felt like I had the world by the tail. Thirty-seven years later I’m about to become a grandmother, and the world wasn’t always as benevolent as I wanted.
In the same amount of time since that spring in 1974, I’ll probably be dead or close enough that people worry about that elderly lady. Then one glorious day I’ll shed this old earthly body and be present with the Lord. Maybe I’ll awaken one morning and know that this is the day that I die; or it might come as a complete surprise. Nonetheless, I hope death comes during sleep. I prefer not to die in a fire or by drowning. I don’t like the cold, being buried alive or gutted like a fish like William Wallace in Braveheart. But what ever the Lord has prepared for me the end will come at a time that was assigned.
When I see His face, I don’t expect the Lord to ask me if I wore long hair or patent leather shoes. He won’t be interested in my Cadillac or lack of Cadillac. I believe God will be more concerned about what I did with my time, talent, and if I was able to love unconditionally. He might even measure all my thoughts and actions by The Golden Rule—what he called the greatest commandment. However, if today was my last day then I’d like these to be my parting thoughts:
- Life is short, therefore handle with care. We think it is very, very long when we’re waiting for our 18th birthday. We can’t wait for our graduation, marriage and children. Then at some point time starts spinning out of control. Today you’re in the car with your two-year-old and tomorrow she’s graduating from high school. Your youngest child isn’t a baby forever and soon you’re alone and can do all those things you thought you’d never do again like sleep late on a Saturday morning.
- Don’t spend time cursing the thermostat or the guy who pulls out in front of you. Spend more time praising God for all the blessings He’s given you.
- Spend more time on the eternal and less time on the temporal.
- Most of us believe we are a brilliant combination of Stephen Hawking and Pa Cartwright, but we’re more like Jethro Bodine and Clark Griswold. If we were perfect we’d have no need for Jesus to be our strength. We’re the best when we’ve given up and turned it over to Him…that is especially true when our kids are around 13. Worry less about what they’re doing to embarrass you, and love them more—unconditional love goes a LONG way.
- Laugh at least once a day. Laugh most about yourself—don’t take yourself so seriously.
- Remember kids are people too with ideas, feelings and dreams. Before you react remember how much God tolerates from you.
- Remember your teenage years and all the crazy stuff you did and you turned out okay. Cut the kids some slack…instead of grounding a kid maybe a treat from McDonalds and tell them all the good things about them.
- If you don’t have children, then find someone else’s to ‘adopt’. Parents never enough time or money, so having a favorite aunt or uncle can be rewarding for all involved. We’ve loved having Auntie Karen for our kids.
- Speaking of family…are you close to them? Recently in the South we experienced a day of tornados that totally changed the geographical landscape, but also neighborhoods and families. What if today is the day that your family changes forever? Are there people with whom you need to make amends? Are there people with whom you need to reconcile? What’s God speaking to your heart…just your heart and not what the nosey neighbor or Sally Churchgoer wants to recommend?
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