According to a CDC report published in 2016, a female born in 1900 would have approximately 48.7 years to live (1,315,387 days, if your counting.) Based loosely on this study, for those of us born a little later, we may have an increased lifespan capacity up to 40 more years! So much more time than my grandparents were offered. But what will I do with this gift of life?
Are you like me and it seems like I just blinked and not only my childhood, my children and my grandchildren are just pictures in my faded photo album and pixels in my I-phone 14? I blinked for just a millisecond and my silky, dishwater blond hair morphed into a wiry, dull gray.
We are truly dust in the wind.1
In about 30 days I will be graduating to my 7th decade on this planet. I have now lived seven more years than my maternal grandmother. It’s staggering and humbling.
When grandma died of ovarian cancer I was 15. I was very sad and missed her terribly. I felt my grandfather sob as he held me in his arms. As a self-centered teen, I wondered to myself where this deep expression of loss had its origin. My grandparents were “old” and they had a full life. Wasn’t that what age naturally brings? Why the tears?
In my youth I saw life events (like the death of my grandmother) from an “insect’s eye” view”. I had very limited life experience and my understanding of God, His will, His plan and sovereignty was foreign to me. My thoughts revolved around myself and how circumstances would effect me and my world.
Fast forward fifty-five years and I can barely fathom the loss that my grandfather felt. She was The-Hearer-Of-His-Dreams, Partner-in-Crime and now no longer in reach, silent, only a sweet memory.
They both are long gone from this world by many decades, but the legacy they left behind lives on in the family and friends who were blessed to know them. My grandmother would take me with her shopping and generously give me a one dollar bill to spend any way I wanted. That was big money in the 1960s! My grandfather was always ready to help a neighbor regardless of the needs of his own corn field. His easy laugh, calling a can of peaches and a cookie a real “feast” and a plethora of funny quips and quotes I parrot to this day. He is to this day so sorely missed.
With the passing of years, the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life, fellowship of other believers and rich time in God’s written love story called the “Bible”, I’ve come to know a richer way to process life changing events. I have come to benefit from a bird’s eye view rather than that of an ant.
Honestly, there are a plethora of moments in my life that my words and actions were more a reflection of that self-centered teen than a follower of Christ. There have been long seasons I have turned from my Savior’s direction and took my own sin stained path that led to indescribable destruction. I made myself my own god, I left behind the lover of my soul. It was like trading in a satellite guided map system for a broken compass.2
I am still learning and so very grateful that God is not finished the work He started in me.3 Hurricanes disguised as career choices, family struggles as well as health challenges all push their way into my life and offer me the opportunity once again to open up the App of His love and guidance in His Holy Word.
When I see the enemy running toward me or a raging sea in front of me, I go to the One who “created my inmost being.”4, the one who promises that “neither the present or the future can separate me from His love.”5 Christ has been my savior and leader for over fifty years. I do not and will never regret placing my faith in Him.
I may have twenty minutes or twenty years remaining in this tent called human flesh, on this planet we call Earth. But I know I have “now”; I am walking, breathing, living proof, that darkness cannot overcome the light.6 I am convinced that all things in my life will work together for good.7 I know without a doubt that He will never leave me.8 He will continue to make my path straight and infuse His peace in my heart and mind as I throw my anxieties at his feet.9
Day by day each one of us is heading to that Great Goodbye. Every time our heart muscle pumps life giving blood and oxygen to the rest of our bodies is one beat closer to the last.
Today is the day of salvation, choose wisely who you will serve.10
Shalom, Shalom
Karen
- Psalms 103:13-16
- Proverbs 3:5-6
- Philippians 1:6
- Psalms 139:13-14
- Romans 8:38-39
- John 1:5
- Romans 8:28
- Deuteronomy 31:8
- I Peter 5:7
- 2 Corinthians 6:2
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