24 hour "thing"

Christmas is always a little different around our house and part of the reason is 5 years ago on Christmas Eve Tim's mom died of a massive heart attack. We had just left her house 24 hours before that and were on our way home to FL. We were actually in a hotel room and I will never forget that phone call. You know how you know something is wrong as soon as it rings? That's how it was. In retrospect the weekend before was filled with Ruth (Tim's mom) doing things that seemed like she had some premonition and was getting things done and saying things that needed said. She had a dream the night before we left that frightened her. When she explained it to me, I told her that it sounded like she would be going on a journey soon to a beautiful place she had never been before but that it wasn't a bad thing and shouldn't be scary. She told me it felt like people knew her there and that it would be ok. Within 48 hours she was in a new place - one more beautiful than she could have ever known and she was certainly met by people who knew her! So Christmas is somewhat bittersweet - the night of her passing we went to Christmas Eve service - which seemed to be the most appropriate thing we could do - she must have loved knowing we were in church on her special day. After a very hectic and grief stricken time in IN with the funeral and all that comes with it - we returned home.

The following Sunday night we met with our young adult group. It is always strange following a life changing event like that. But I handed out pieces of paper and asked them to do the following : to write down everything they were going to do in the next 24 hours. They could be as specific as they wanted or it could be more general but to make sure that they at least hit the highlights. After they were done I asked them to turn the paper over. I then told then that 24 hours from now, they would die. And then to write down what they were going to do in the next 24 hours. Some were shocked but everyone filled out their sheets. Then I asked that they compare the 2 lists. For most, little was the same. I then asked them if their 24 hours before dying list included talking to or doing something with other people. Most of then did. So I gave them another sheet of paper and asked them to write a letter to that person or persons and tell them all the things they needed to tell them. Beause we aren't promised tomorrow and we need to start living in such a way that dying won't matter. Tim's parents both passed away suddenly and he wan't able to speak to them knowing that they were dying. But when they died, I asked him the same question, already knowing the answer. I asked him what he would say to them if he could. He answered "I would just want them to know I loved them." I asked him what his last words to each of his parents had been (both on phone calls a day or so prior). He answered "I love you." He had no regrets because his last words of every phone call and every "leaving" were the same - "I love you". He still does that today and I love him for it.

In 2008, I hope we live in such a way that dying doesn't matter. Last Sunday, we lost one of the "saints" of our church and my mom was so disappointed because she hadn't gotten a chance to go see her this past week. But she had taken the time the Sunday before to talk and listen and share with her. I told her that that was a God thing. This year will be filled - with things that bring us joy and things that bring us grief. Things that make us laugh and things that make us cry. I want to live for Christ in such a way that no matter how much time we have - they will be filled with doing the things that matter.