I was up before the sun this morning. It's interesting watching our
planet wake up. Everything is dark at first but then there is a hint of
light in the dark sky overhead. The motionless leaves in the trees begin
to move, slowly. Everything coming to life.
It is
exactly the opposite at the end of the day. And at the end of life. The
light fades. Once-moving things slow, then stop. Then all is still.
My
mother is in the next room, nearing the end of her battle with cancer.
She is sleeping. Soon she will go the way of the wind in the trees at
night. The setting of the sun.
There are blessings in
death though. Relationships strengthen, people come together. Love,
mercy and compassion abound. It's too bad it takes someone's death to
bring us to life - living the life of love that God commanded us to
live, always.
34“A new command I give you: Love one another.
As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this everyone
will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” - John 13:24-25
This
morning I am remembering another quote. This one is not from Jesus
though. It is from Admiral James T Kirk from Star Trek. He said, "How we
face death is at least as important as how we face life." Is that true?
We only find out when we face death.
One thing I have
noticed though. As we face the death of a loved one our level of
compassion increases towards others. Grace increases. We are more
willing to express love. Why does it take someone's death to have that
happen?
Watching my sister, my wife and my niece tend
to the needs of my dying mother has been a blessing. They are "facing
death" with God's gifts of love, grace and mercy . . . "for such a time
as this" (Esther 4:14)
Each of us has one life to
live. How will we live it? Will we live it in love? Or will we battle and
fight our way through it. The choice is ours. Yours.
The
sun is up now. A deer is walking across the backyard, nibbling the
grass as she heads into the woods. It is the dawning of another day. How
shall we live it?
A New Day Has Come - Celine Deon
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