"It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart." Ecclesiastes 7:2
Out of the many marathons that I have been blessed to run in my life, there was perhaps no other 26.2 mile race in which I did so much reflecting on the past, enjoying the present and contemplating the future than on Saturday. You see not only was it the last day of 2016 and the day most people make resolutions, but it was also the day a dear friend of mine went home to be with the Lord (taken off life support that morning). After suffering a stroke on Christmas, this 34-year-old wife and mother of three slipped into a coma and never recovered leaving a reminder that not one of us can determine when or how we will leave this world.
And when it comes to reminders, Solomon was reminding us how contemplating death could actually help us live life more fully when he wrote that it was better to go into a house of mourning than to one of feasting. He was saying that, although many people avoid thinking about dying or refuse to face the possibility, "death is the destiny of everyone." And by taking that knowledge "to heart" and really grasping the brevity of life, we would be more apt to live life as we should-serving God to the absolute best of our ability and intently loving others with abandon.
So today, while there is still time, live with purpose. Live with the intent of doing things that will have an eternal impact on the lives of others. Live to serve Jesus as if this moment is all you have because, as Christine Caine wrote, "Life is too short, the world is too big and God's love is too great to live ordinary."
Heavenly Father, thank you for the time you gave to my friend Renee. Thank you for the godly life she led that no doubt inspired others to do the same. And may this serve as a reminder that each and every day is a blessing to be cherished and to be used to make an eternal impact on the world. May we live to serve you with all that we have Lord. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.
Happy Running!!!
Echo - Blanca
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| In memory of Renee Smith |
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