This year has brought sudden deaths in the lives of people I know, people I love…
One of my best friends lost her fiance suddenly and unexpectedly. She didn’t get his daily phone call, and worried why. She sent her step dad over to his house to check on him while she was at work. He was found dead in his basement. Heart attack.
Another precious beloved friend lost her husband unexpectedly after he was admitted to the hospital having loss of breath and they found a blood clot in his lung. Days later, he died.
A thriving teen going to college, building dreams for her future, was riding her bike near campus when she was hit by a car and is now in critical condition… fighting for her life.
Oh, do we really get it? Do we soak in the truth that each day we wake up, we face another day alive? Do we really understand how fragile life is?
So very, very fragile.
I’m sure you have your own stories to tell. Loved ones, family, precious friends who have faced unexpected deaths, or terminal diagnoses…
Death does not discriminate.
Now I could remind you to make those changes to be healthy. I could expand on discussing our daily lives and how we function in them and proclaim the ultimatum of finding joy in your every day. I could even implore you to embrace every moment you have and consider yourself lucky for being alive yet another day…
How many times do we experience that convicting punch in the gut that tells us we must be grateful for our lives? I am constantly aware of how vulnerable we all are to life’s gravitational pull toward death. I’m guessing you are too.
I could go on and on about challenging you (and me) to live with intention, make the best of things, and grasp life with every ounce of vigor you have within.
I could tell you that you surely have it good, if you wake up today and breath in and out and continue to breathe as the sun rises and sets…
But I won’t.
Because there are days we don’t really care about the sun. There are days we wake up and really? We may not want to take that breath. There are days that seem endless and debilitating and so difficult we would rather not have woken up at all.
I know…
I have them too.
But despite those hard days, those trying trials, those sometimes suffocating sacrifices we endure just to get through the day, we are alive. We haven’t been taken from this world, just yet. Although there are times we may not enjoy living; we dread carrying the weight we bear, we worry over conflicts, grow anxious in crises, dive deeper in the pain, linger in the loss, break with broken relationships, weep over an empty womb, suffer in sickness, hate the horrible job, or even listen to the enemy within that says we aren’t good enough for much…
We are alive.
And I’m betting that those we have lost, would like nothing more than to tell us to LIVE.
Within each day we breathe in and out, give, move, love, and surrender to the sun that rises and sets on our day…A day that may be filled with heavy weight, conflicts, crises, pain, loss, broken relationships, prolonged illness, empty wombs, horrible jobs, or insecurities…
We have LIFE.
Value it. Cherish it. Treasure it. You may not always enjoy it, but the least we can do for those we have lost…
Is savor it.
How?
You have a reason to live.
I’m guessing you have many reasons to live. Your parents, your spouse, your children, your grandchildren, your siblings, your nieces, your nephews, your family, your friends, your career, your dreams, your goals, your passions, your purpose, your mission here on earth. (To name a few.)
Think about them. All of them.
THAT is what you live for.
Honor that.
Always.
Realize that your presence in this world is absolutely, positively miraculous.
Beautiful Chris and yet so very sorry for all your friends and families losses. Just a big reminder here that we shouldn’t take any of our loved ones for granted ever. Hugs to you. xoxo
It’s something I grapple with all the time… how very fragile our lives truly are! I need this reminder often. Thanks sweetie!! XO
You are Alive! couldn’t have come at a better time. Mom has only a few more days to live as her body is starting to shut down. Thanks for the inspiration!
OH Reenie! As soon as I read your comment I teared up… and haven’t stopped thinking about you since. I pray for your beautiful aching heart during this time. I’m so so sorry honey.
This is such a great reminder, Chris! It’s so easy to get caught up in the things that aren’t right in our lives, or get so focused on survival, that we never really experience a full and whole life. I’m definitely on the journey of living in the moment with a heart of gratitude, because this moment is the only one we’re promised. Great post for this Sunday morning! Thanks!
I love that Charity!! “This moment is the only one we’re promised.” Oooh… that is good. Thank you so much for your wise and beautiful insight!
*****You have a reason to live.****
After Kay was murdered, I thought, “WHY WHY WHY am I still here? WHY would I be here w/out my sister? WHYYYYYY?”
I know. I finally know.
Love from MN… xxxxxxxxxxx
PS. I love how God uses your words, darling.
And I am in tears, reading your pain to purpose unfold before my eyes… I’m so glad you know. YOU have a reason to live, my precious friend. Oh yes. You do. <3
Beautiful, Chris, and so so true! I am sure that those loved ones who we have lost in our lives would want us to cherish being alive and live life to our fullest. An important reminder to us all!
Thanks Bev! I think that is the best way to honor the ones we love and lost… If something would happen to me, that is what I would want!
And all I wish for is for YOU to stay ALIVE!
And I- YOU. <3 Thanks mom!!
Losing a loved one suddenly has got to be such a crushing blow. I have so many reasons to live. This post is a wonderful reminder of that. I’ve found that no matter how hard things seem to be, someone always has it tougher. Perspective is powerful.
I once wrote a farewell letter to the teens I worked with on a campus of group homes… that was one of the truths I shared in the letter. “No matter how hard you think you have it, someone will ALWAYS have it worse.” Yes- even in their harsh lives full of abuse and neglect- they can still be reminded of that. Great point Jen!
Oh Chris, I had a mild panic attack when I started reading this. Those tragedies – so random and possible for us all. Yes, we are alive and I am here for my children and I pray every day that I will be – for at least another fifty years!
Me too Allie!!! It terrifies me sometimes when I think about the possibility of losing someone I love or God forbid something happening to me! I immediately think of my kids… I hope and pray I can be here for them for another fifty years too! <3
Thanks for this beautiful reminder! Life is a precious gift.
It is a precious gift! Even when we don’t feel it… we must at least acknowledge it. <3
Goosebumps, serious goosebumps reading this post. You are right some days we don’t want to look at the sun, the best we can do is just open our eyes. And that’s okay as long as we remember why we are opening our eyes.
Beautiful post my friend….
Oh thanks so much Kerri!! These thoughts have been brewing in me for weeks… just keeping our eyes open and our hearts willing to invest in our lives is truly what I would guess is the greatest way we can honor those we have lost. <3
Ah, so well said, Christine. I am guilty of taking life for granted. It is a precious gift. I really appreciate this post.
Thanks so much Mary! I need this reminder too… every day. <3
So much loss – I’m so sorry, Chris. Thank you for the reminder that we have so many reasons to live, and we cannot take any of them for granted.
I’m betting everyone has stories much like mine… that is the fundamental truth of this world, isn’t it? There is loss EVERYWHERE. Tragic, devastating loss. It’s really so difficult to imagine it happening to us… but it does, and it will. Every day is truly a gift!
Such a beautiful reminder! I love that you have admitted here that not every day is wonderful – some days are dark and dreadful – but still we have life and that is a gift we take for granted far too often.
Just this morning I told my husband I feel like I’m 90 years old and my ankle is killing me and this SUCKS. Yeah… totally not every day is wonderful. 🙂
Such sad stories. A local senior in high school was killed over the weekend in a car wreck.
Sometimes I get so mad at my anxiety because of this – because of this gift of being alive. Savoring..
I know T- sometimes the anxiety can weigh us down into that fear of it all… of losing it all… OFf tragic circumstances happening to me/you or our loved ones. Truth is- we are all always vulnerable to it. Grateful every day that I don’t have a story to tell… like so many we know and love.
Such a bittersweet reminder of the frailty of life. My husband’s twenty year old sister died in a car accident two weeks before we married. It was devastating, but made us realize that each day is a gift and we must choose to cherish it and the people in our lives. Thank you!
OH gosh Sarah, how tragic! I can only imagine how that set the foundation of your life together… what a powerful reminder and motivation for you both to live and embrace life with true gratitude!
S’pose so.
I’ll keep on telling you Tiger… and loving you right where you are. <3
What an important and incredibly valuable perspective, Chris. Those tragic personal stories took my breath away. There are so many days I forget how blessed I am that me and my loved ones are just breathing and living.
Thank you for your powerful thoughts here, my friend. You have convinced me to savor today and sadly, for a generally negative girl like me, that does not come naturally.
Thanks so much Candace! It’s so hard to shift our perspective on a daily basis… I woke up today feeling like I am 90 years old… moaning and groaning. I get it. I sometimes have to smack myself back to this truth!!
Thank you for yet another reminder, wake up call and nudge. It’s so true. I recently loss a dear friend to a three month battle with pancreatic cancer. Yet again, I remind myself: “He/she would LOVE to have the problems you have. They would love to have the same worries, to walk the same difficult path. Embrace it, Kelly. You’re alive.”
Even though I have a lot of loss in my life, I tend to forget that important message every now and then. So thank you.
Oh gosh Kelly- how absolutely horrible. Yes! I think those same thoughts often about the ones who have passed. It’s definitely a powerful reminder for us all.
Hi Chris! (Sorry about the typo when I tweeted this!)
I really relate to this post, because I have days when I wonder what I’m up to, or what God wants me to do. Ugh. Such inner conflict. But that does take my heart away from the gift I have to even think these thoughts. Because I’m alive. And while I’m alive, I have hope that I can reset. That maybe tomorrow will be better.
I pray that you will have a better day today. How is that leg doing? I am trying to get around without my cane now. Still sore, and I limp, but I’m getting there. Hope you are healing strong!
I always love your posts Chris. You’re a powerful writer,
Ceil
I struggle with that inner conflict at times too, Ceil. I’m guessing we all do, yes? This helps anchor me down and reminds me of my value and my purpose!!
Ankle hurting, but I am making myself go for walks… SLOWLY and painfully moving forward! I’m so glad you are getting around a bit better too!!!
Ceil, I had to come back and tell you that your compliment meant the WORLD to me. Coming from YOU, I am deeply honored that you feel that way! Thank you friend, for being such an encouragement to me! <3
Beautiful, Chris! What a powerful reminder. Thank you!
Thanks Adrienne! It’s an important reminder I need to always keep tucked in my heart, and I hope others do too. <3
I’m so sorry for the losses you’ve had to deal with, Chris. And so delighted that each of those special people were honored by the message you share here!
I hope it does, Shel. I can’t imagine having to endure such loss as my friend’s have. <3 Thanks for your encouragement! <3
This is so true Chris. Often when we think of death we envision it being when we’re in our 80’s or 90’s but reality says it comes at any time.
Last year a dear friend of ours was killed crossing the street in a crosswalk. He was in the right… the driver was in the wrong. He was 27 years old. It was devastating and a reminder of just how short this life can be.
Praise the Lord that I have the assurance of eternal life with Him. This life is hard and fleeting.
Thank you for sharing.
xoxo
Oh Jennifer… what a tragic story!! In the blink of an eye. Sigh…
“Praise the Lord that I have the assurance of eternal life with Him. This life is hard and fleeting.” <--- BEAUTIFULLY SAID.
such tragedies!! so sorry for all those losses!
as for me, I generally feel any day I wake up: that’s a good day right there!! And if someone brings me a cup of coffee shortly after, well it just got even better. I have been trying really hard the past couple of years to make gratitude a daily bread. And it’s true, when you focus on those things, it’s really hard to keep whining about the long line at Starbucks. because most of us are so blessed! I mean, we got a great big powerful God up there who loves us and is on our side! It’s so humbling.
I love you Leslie. That is all. 🙂
All so true. We think everything will go on just as it is today, but in doing so, we take this day, this moment for granted. You are right. We are alive. That alone is reason to throw a party and celebrate every single day. Love this, Chris. xo
OH Topaz! SO glad to see you here, my friend!! It’s SO hard some days to truly savor it.. ya know? But oh do we miss out on the richness of it all, if we don’t! I keep trying not to miss it… <3
Beautiful Chrissy. I will live today.
Thanks lovebug. 🙂 I will too. XOXOXOXO…