I remember being awakened that Monday morning by a phone call from my oldest brother, “Dad’s being taken to the hospital…” My initial reaction was concern, but then, knowing how many things my Dad had been through with his health, I relaxed in thinking He’ll come through this too. I laid back down in my bed, said a quick prayer for him, and told myself not to worry, he’d be alright.
I felt like my faith in God was strong, my husband and I had had a hard year and God had grown both of us in the process. I was confident that my Dad would pull through, God couldn’t take him away.
Then a second phone call. This time it was my sister. “Dad just died.”
“What? What did you say?” my heart is pounding as I sit up in bed straining to hear my sisters words more clearly, surely I had heard her wrong.
“Did no one call you?” she asks, and then breaks into sobs and can no longer speak as my brother takes the phone.
I remember hanging up the phone and all I could think or feel was the desire to get home, I’ve got to make it to my family, they need me. I need to be there.
That entire day was filled with booking flights, trying to make plans, choosing clothes for the funeral, packing all while walking around in the fog of unbelief. I look back now and see clearly God’s hands in that day, right down to orchestrating the Christian couple I sat next to on the plane. I remember walking into the house, seeing my Mom and thinking, “She’s in a fog too.” Hugging my sister and crying because if Dad were alive he would have met me at the airport and given me a big bear hug, not even considering that I wouldn’t be there if he hadn’t died. Sitting in a numb state on the couch, after my siblings had all gone, listening to my Mom recount the whole story of that morning, still in unbelief that this was real but with thankfulness that he had died at home with her, instead of alone in a hospital bed.
My faith was strong then, I had Godly parents who had raised me right, took me to church, and encouraged me to follow the Lord in all things.
My faith was strong while standing in the receiving line, listening to people tell of the impact my Dad had had on their lives.
My faith was strong during the funeral as the Pastor preached and one of my Daddy’s closest friends talked about what was most important in his life here on earth, Faith, Fellowship and Family.
My faith was still strong as tears streamed down my face while the gunshots sounded around me and the trumpet played at his final resting place.
My faith was strong as I resolved to live a life more dedicated to the Lord, created a bucket list to live life to the fullest and determined to have the impact on others that my Daddy had on everyone he met. We make these determinations and resolutions when we are face to face with the brevity of life and when we see our lives in the light of what they could be and should be. They are wonderful choices that can shape and mold us if we let them, and we should let them.
Losing a loved one shows us, not only the brevity of life, but that the only life worth living is the one that impacts others for good. I don’t know exactly when my Daddy had received Christ as his personal Savior but I do know that he didn’t keep that good news for himself. A story told at his funeral depicted my Daddy’s life perfectly. As a small business man my Dad had many employees through the years and each time he would hire someone new he would tell our pastor to help him pray for that person. “I might have to fire‘em in a week but they’re going to hear the gospel before they go!”
Dear friend reading this, I don’t know if you have experienced loss in your life or not but can I challenge you to realize the brevity of this life? James 4:14 says that our life “is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” We are not guaranteed tomorrow, we are not even guaranteed this next moment. If you don’t have Jesus Christ as your personal Savior would you seek out someone to tell you the good news of the gospel today? For my friends who are Christians would you seek out someone today to share the good news you have already received? Life is too short to not live a life sold out to Christ.
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