"Learn to live life with a sense of urgency, because even if you get to live a long one, it's still incredibly short. Don't save things for a special occasion. Go out and do the things you want to do, tell people how you really feel, and stop wasting time and energy on things that really don't matter." AwesomeLifeTips.com
I'll be the first to admit that I'm a saver. Friends gave us a bottle of chocolate wine as a Thank You gift in April. I'm saving it for our 2 year Anniversary in July! :-) If it weren't for my Husband, I probably wouldn't have a whole lot of fun. We really balance each other out! I help him save more and he helps me spend more. We make a great Team! I think saving for Retirement is a very good and responsible thing to do. However, I also know many people who never made it to Retirement age before they were called home to Heaven. We are taking the advice of my late Father-In-Law and, while being financially responsible, we are planning to travel now, while we are relatively young and healthy. There are no guarantees in life.
The following portions of Scripture also point out how short life is:
"Teach us to realize the brevity of life so that we may grow in wisdom." Psalm 90:12 NLT
“Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered—how fleeting my life is. " Psalm 39:4 NLT
Our days are numbered! Two weeks ago a 6 year old girl was murdered by her father in our apartment complex. This week I attended a visitation for a co-worker who was in his 20's. A 22 year old son of a lady from my former Church died this week as a result of injuries suffered when he was shot 6 months ago. A friend's Brother died at age 41 last year. My Dad was 59 when he passed away on 12/8/1999. My Husband's Dad was 67 when he passed away this February 26th. You get the idea. Not everyone lives to be 90 years old! I've heard friends say things like "I'm not ready to lose my Mom/Dad yet!" No one is EVER ready to lose a loved one! However, when we will lose loved ones is completely out of our control. It is up to God. Loss hurts and it stings deep. You never "get over it"! But God is Good and He will heal your heart and enable you to comfort others with the comfort you have received.
Those who know me, know that I am a Numbers Gal! I love dates and numbers and countdowns! :) I was blessed to have 25 Years 11 Months and 5 Days of having an earthly Dad. That's 9,470 days! My Dad has already been in Heaven for 13 Years 6 Months 1 Week and 1 Day. That's 4,939 days! A new Chapter of my life began when I started getting to know my now Husband. That was 3 Years 8 Months and 1 Week ago! That's 1346 Days! My Husband and I were talking about what we miss about his Dad who passed away 3 Months and 3 Weeks ago. Only 110 days ago. He then asked me what I miss most about my Dad. I told him I miss the fact that my Dad was analytical and the most like me, and the one person in my family who "got" me. I've been thinking about my Husband's question a lot. After 13.5 years, so much of my adult life has been lived without my Dad, that it's sometimes hard to remember what I miss about him. There are now so many memories that don't include him. This makes me sad. No one can ever take his place, but last Father's Day was Awesome! For the first time since my Dad passed away, I had a Father figure in my life....my Father-In-Law. He loved me to pieces and always told me how great I was and how Jonathan and I light up a room when we walk into it, etc. etc. etc. I miss him so much! This is my Husband's first Father's Day not having an earthly Father. Please keep him in your prayers.
I want to live my life as if everyday will be my last, or the last of those around me. I am FAR from perfect, but I know if I look at life in that light, that I will treat others better. I want them to see Jesus in me. I want others to know that they are loved unconditionally, with an everlasting love! I want them to know that there is life, hope, laughter, love...both here and in Eternity!
Will you do it? Will you Live and Love like today is your last and/or the last of those around you?
Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13
