As I enter the twilight of my years, I notice more tracks from my journey behind me, and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel in the distance. I once heard someone say something profound: the truth is that birth is, in itself, the first step toward death. Perhaps if everyone lived life that way, we would be more mindful of how we live it each day.
Our greatest fears come from our roles as parents of four and grandparents of eight, particularly the thought of outliving any of them. The pain of such a loss could be overwhelming, and it would undoubtedly present a significant challenge. My wife, my daughter-in-law, and I have all experienced the loss of loved ones over the past few years. Though knowing someone who had to deal with such loss, it never compares when it is personal.
My brother, being the most recent and only by eight months of my wife’s only brother’s passing, certainly has had a lasting impact. Our children admitted that they hated hearing the phone ring for the longest time, fearing it might be bad news. Something we both had to deal with at different levels in consoling each other. What allows us to mentally deal with it daily is our Faith in God’s plan to take us to a better place eternally. We both feel sorry for everyone who doesn’t have faith and hope, as they have no mechanism for coping with something better beyond this world.
Point to Ponder: None of us can control what happens in our daily lives. Some people went to bed last night and didn’t wake up this morning. What we do have is the free will to respond to each day as if it is a gift. First, be very thankful for receiving it. Then, open it slowly, savoring the excitement of each moment as you unwrap it. Be excited about the prospects of what’s inside and grateful, no matter what it is, as time here is precious. Oh! I hope there’s another one under the tree… Wait, there is! That’s Faith and Hope, which in the end are all you really need. Carpe Diem!
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