My brother Rick recently had an accident. He was helping cut down some tree limbs, and was on a ladder with a chainsaw and the ladder buckled. He threw the saw and landed on his ankle. It was only a couple of feet to the ground, but it shattered his ankle and he suffered from a horrible break. All this happened in an instant. I'm thankful it's not worse...that he didn't kill himself, but his life will be altered for the next several months possibly forever. Life is like that. It's unpredictable and can change in an instant.
When I paint I often listen to Steven Curtis Chapman's "All Things New" CD. For some reason I am overwhelmed when I hear many of the songs on it. It is so incredibly anointed I am usually fighting back tears. One of my favorite songs is called "Last Day on Earth". He starts the song singing about a funeral procession and how his thoughts turned to what if it was his last day. The song always makes me think...what if it were my last day here on Earth. How would I live, what would I do?
In this life there are no guarantees of tomorrow. The words of the song say, "If tomorrow comes to find me looking in the face of Jesus will I hear him say the words well done"?? I want my life to count. I want to make a difference and I want the people around me to be better because they knew me. I know for a fact if it were my last day I would surround myself with everyone I loved and they would know exactly how I felt. I would hold nothing back. I would hold nothing back.
Have a blessed day.
Good morning Becky......lovely post as always.....really food for thought......your comment "I want my life to count" really stuck with me.
ReplyDeleteI hope that your brother makes a good recovery....and thank goodness it wasn't even worse. (Both my brothers have had serious accidents and both times the only way I could console myself was to tell myself that it could have been worse....)
Have a good day :)
PS Loving your music today :)
Oh I am going to have to hear that song!!! Sounds awesome! My favorite is first on my playlist, Word of God Speak...That song just really checks me everytime..I'm sorry to here that your brother was hurt but I am glad he is OK!!
ReplyDeleteThis is still very fresh in my thoughts, too, as we've just come back from VA with the funeral services for my FIL. We just never know when our last day will be, do we. I am glad that your brother is doing okay...Eye opening and life changing "close calls" always have a way of getting our attention. We will pray for healing.
ReplyDeleteI've been pondering some of my favorite lyrics lately, too. One of these days, I'll get around to sharing them. It's amazing how much an inspired song can impact our lives!
ReplyDeleteme too! Still working on it...
ReplyDeleteI never used to think about it, really, until I had babies. Now, I think about it a lot.
ReplyDeleteMy grandpa died on an ordinary day doing an ordinary chore, and it really hit me that often, that's how it goes. (I HOPE I don't die cleaning the refrigerator!! But if I do, God delivered me from the torture...amen...) I, too, live fully, in the moment, with my loved ones. I'd like my kids to know that even though I should've been cleaning the bathroom (another hated household task), I chose to go out and push them on the swing while we still could.
This is exactly the kind of post I needed to read to start my day, because my day wasn't getting off to the best start. And I know it was because my attitude wasn't the greatest today. Your thoughtful post reminded me I need to live every day to the fullest!!! So thank you!!! :-)
ReplyDeleteI am going to listen to that song today. Awesome post!
ReplyDeleteIs this an excuse to avoid housework? or a prompt to be a kinder, gentler Savant?
ReplyDeleteEither works for me Becky.
I ALWAYS LOVE YOUR POSTS!
visiting from SITS/following your blog.
ReplyDeletethanks for the morning motivation, and I'm glad your brother is (relatively) OK!
Becky, great post and so true...life can change in a moment. We see that on the news everyday. So sorry to hear about your brother and I do hope he will have a quick recovery. It's good to stay on the right path, easy to get caught up in our busy lives and forget what's really important...our relationship with God and our family. You inspire me!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog. YOur work is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteGlad your brother is alright.
I have had a lot of loss in my life and I always think about this. In fact it crosses my mind every day. Not only do I keep it in mind about myself but the people around me. I often fail but I do strive to be authentic with others for this reason and try not to ever leave things on a sour note.
ReplyDeleteWonderul post! I LOVE SCC, especially that CD.
ReplyDeleteThoughtful post! You make a difference every day by just being who you are. Now, I am off to itunes to get that cd.
ReplyDeleteGood stuff!! I have taken a teeny break these last few days and I have to say, that while I missed catching up with stranger-friends, I am glad I didn't miss my kids. We spent good time together that ought to happen everyday. Do I honestly want their memories of me to be sitting at the computer saying, "wait a minute"?? No!!
ReplyDeleteHope you have a great day!! Oh, and hope your brother gets healed really quick!!
Elise
Yippee, hooray sister!! That's the best post ever and I am right there with you!! Let's make this world matter, shall we?!
ReplyDeleteAwesome, totally heart touching and awesome!
What a beautiful post. This made me teary. I just posted on my blog what just happened to my little guy this morning...life is SOOO fragile.
ReplyDeletewe need to live every day as if it's our last. you are so right that life can and does change in an instant.
ReplyDeleteglad that your brother is okay but i am sure it will be a long, hard road for him.
your encouragement to me definitely makes a difference in my life. thank you for that!
what an AWESOME post- I've been holding some things in and this just the push i need to get them off my cheast! Just like you said HOLD NOTHING back!
ReplyDeletethank you so much your words mean more than you will ever know!
I hope Rick has a speedy and sucsessful recovery! That first photo is absolutly amazing. I have know idea how I would spend my last day on earth... Something to think about!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing the words of that song. It is sometimes a good thing when God gets ahold of us and makes us think about how precious our time here on earth is...
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Nora
what a beautiful post... it is such a good reminder for all of us!
ReplyDeleteThank you for blessing me, today. Lovely post. I am thankful that your brother wasn't hurt worse. I hope he heals quickly.
ReplyDeleteAmazing how life can change so very quickly isn't it? Because of my husband's health issues and the loss of many loved ones; this thought crosses my mind fairly regularly.
ReplyDeleteSo much of our culture is focused on living in the moment; but most of that "living" isn't worth much.
As always, awesome post. I always appreciate your depth and transparency. There have been some comments left on my blog recently where you & your blog have been commended...under Monday's Marriage post. I believe they will bless you!
Oh, and I will be praying for you brother - for an amazing recovery that can only be explained by the grace and goodness of God.
ReplyDelete