A Challenge

   Yesterday was my niece's birthday.  Maggie would have been 22 years old yesterday.  But her life was interrupted ten years ago when she was hit by a softball in the head.  My sister and her husband have spent the last ten years grieving and striving to move on and frankly have done so as well as they could manage.  But the hole that Maggie's absence leaves in their hearts is difficult to comprehend, much alone conquer. The moments of despair that they must endure every so often still occur.
   Yesterday Dewey died.  He was 87 years old and his health was fading.  He had been a doctor here in town, raised his family, and enjoyed life.  While his family will definitely miss his presence, what is it about death that somehow makes the tragic nature of Maggie's departure seem worse and more catastrophic than Dewey's death?  Each is gone, and since each was a believer in Jesus, we know that each of them is in heaven now.
   But, oh sure, we could come up with a list of reasons why one type of death seems more sad than another.  Some of those reasons could be based on valid thinking and others may be purely opinions or emotional reactions.  My thinking is leading me in a different direction and I wish to have you think this too: today I wish to challenge you to celebrate the lives of people around you while you have them around you.  Circumstances can change, appearances can alter, and age is relative and ultimately inconsequential.  But death is inevitable.  Rather than being pessimistic about such an obvious truth,  celebrate the living of those close to you today.  None of us will be here forever.  None of us is immortal.  Remind your family of your love for each them today.  Don't miss out.

   UPDATE: I had an echocardiogram yesterday and met with the cardiologist today.  The ol' ticker is improving after being damaged by the chemo and/or the fluid build-up in my lungs from a month ago.  Before this all began, I scored a 58 on some scale (55-60 is optimal).  When I was in the hospital, that number dropped to a 46.  Now I am at 50 with some time and some meds to help.  We keep going.  Thank you Lord.