"Life is short..."

"Life is short - stay awake for it"...the saying from Caribou, my favorite coffee establishment, comes to mind as I am reflecting on the Memorial service that my husband and I attended this morning of an older gentleman from my church. He was 68 years old and had suffered with Parkinson's Disease the last 17 years of his life. He was a man of faith and even while being in the nursing home these past few years, he was joyful and at peace. He loved to laugh, tease and joke around with people. He always made me laugh years ago when I was working at our church as the youth director.



Three things came to mind as I pondered this morning's event:

1) This 'older' man is the same age as my dad. This could very well be my dad we are mourning and I should enjoy the years that he is still on this earth. This is harder to do when you live about 5 hours apart and see each other a couple times a year and when your personalities are similar, it becomes a challenge to have a conversation without arguing about really stupid stuff. I need to be more intentional about having positive conversations when we are around each other. We need to enjoy the time we have left with those we love.

2) As I age, I need to be thankful and content with what I do have and enjoy life. I am always on the go and task oriented about all the things that I need to get done that I don't take time to stop and laugh. I had read in my Bible study this week (by Beth Moore) about taking 'Sabbath Moments'. The concept was not necessarily to rest on Sundays (which is needed as well) but to take moments in time to rest, enjoy, and relax. A couple weeks ago, my family went sledding with some friends. Even though I didn't sled (been injured too many times with a bad back), I enjoyed being the photographer and laughing over the spills and wipeouts and rejoicing when the kids had a LONG sled run. It was a good time to be thankful for my friends and family and enjoying life.

3) Mortality sneaks up on us and we never know when it is our time to leave this earth. The question I have is; are you ready? Do you know without a shadow of doubt where you will be when you die? If you are unsure and don't have peace like this older gentleman did, even in the midst of a debilitating disease, check out www.needhim.org or call them at 888-NeedHim. They will show you how you can peace and ever-lasting life through a relationship with Jesus Christ.

"Life is short...stay awake for it" and enjoy the days you have left...you never know when it is your time.