A Lesson to be Learned from Potentially Fatal Stuff

It's interesting that when I mention having an incurable disease, or experiencing potentially fatal symptoms, people tend to think that's a big deal. Well, most people anyway. (You non-big-dealers know who you are!)

However, if you think of it, just living life means you will one day die of something (unless you're here when the Lord comes back), and everyday we do things that are potentially fatal. Like driving a car, or standing outside in the rain, or just getting old. Isn't it strange how we naturally tend to think of possibly terminal things as things that shouldn't happen, rather than recognizing that they always will?

Why do you suppose that is? Why is it so sobering to think that life ends, that it isn't something we can claim for forever?

I think it's because we just plain don't want to die. We don't like it when other people die and leave us. That's very reasonable. Unfortunately, however, ignoring it won't make the truth of it go away.

Maybe that's one of the gifts we health problem sufferers have, wrapped up and disguised as a trial--the gift of being reminded regularly that life has no guarantees, and we can't expect a certain number or years or a certain amount of accomplishments within those years.

I once read a wise statement: "Live each day as if it were your last, because one day it will be."

Great quote, but I do have one qualm about it. Having gone through this whole potentially fatal thing a few times, I am aware that the day all those symptoms come crashing in on your well-ordered life and everything goes into chaos, is not really a great time to catch up on all the things you need to do before you die.

Not to mention, a lot of people don't even have the crisis before their lives end. People die every day never expecting it--accidents, heart attacks, etc.

So if you don't know the number of your own days, and you can't predict which day will be your last, here's my new philosophy: Try to make sure your second-to-last day is all it should be.

For example, those times when I've had scary symptoms and I'm hanging on to God for dear life because I'm terrified and trying not to panic, that's not much of a memory to leave behind for those I love most. However, if the night before I snuggled with my kids, or read them a book, or told my husband how much he means to me, the night before the crisis is what they can remember. The day before the last was one where they knew they were loved.

How do you know if it's your second-to-last day? You don't. But my point is, don't wait for the crisis to hit before you start being the person you want to be remembered for. Be that person today, while you have today. The Bible says not to boast about tomorrow or make plans without leaving room for the Lord's will. If that's the case, then today is all we really have.

Life is made up of today after today, you know. You can't ever live a yesterday or a tomorrow.

So if today is all you have, then make it a good one!



P.S. I haven't forgotten I mentioned the refiner of silver, but I've talked too long already, so that will have to wait. =)